MR. NASH'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1941, Page 7

MR. NASH'S REPLY

THE WITHDRAWAL

"NO REASONS GIVEN"

X "The Leader of the Opposition has in no way given reasons why s he withdrew his amendment," I stated the Deputy Leader of the House (Mr. Nash). "There isn't a ' single word that he has uttered ; this morning that justifies the withj drawal of the amendment." 3 Mr. Nash declared that the OpposiJ tion was still of the same mind and ' was afraid of public opinion. They f would fight the Bill still if tftey dared ■to do it, and that had bee: proved by 1 the Prime Minister last night and the action of the Leader of the Opposition • when the Prime. Minister asked him " whether he was in favour of a free medical service to everyone. The . Leader of the Opposition "had hedged, 1 dodged, and squirmed, and had run 1 underneath his desk." He could not give the answer. He was not in favour of free medical service for all the ■ people. The reasons which the Leader of the Opposition had stated in moving his amendment, namely, the conspicuous service being given "by1 members of the medical service on active service overseas, the present serious shortage of doctors, and relief to the public from the taxation necessary to give the State medical service, werr still operating. THE ONLY REASONS. Mr. Nash said that the only reasons behind the amendments were those stated by.the Prime Minister last,night The doctors had asked for certain things to be done and said that they would agree with the rest The country could not be run on clean democratic lines unless the necessary cooperation was obtained. The important point was that a free medical practitioner service was io be available for everybody, and to say that the service would deteriorate was just humbug. The doctors in this country were just as good as the doctors of any country. The doctors had a different mind from what they had twenty years ago. The Leader of the Opposition nad affirmed that he believed the service would deteriorate, continued Mr. Nash, Then he was going to vote for a deteriorated service, because he would not vote against the Bill. Mr. Nash said he believed the Government would get the co-operation of the doctors. That was coming all right. The important point was that when the Bill was passed everyone, irrespective of his income, could have the medical service necessary for him.