THE MEDICAL BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 84, 6 October 1941, Page 6

THE MEDICAL BILL

(To- the Kditbr.) Sir,—Mr. McLaughlin's suggestion that the doctors are justified in discriminating between different sections Of the community in connection .-with medical benefits is so much humbug. Would he suggest that a means test should be. instituted for .the purpose, of benefits? It is' not necessary for me to justify the granting of ; medical benefits to persons with "high incomes." They pay the social security tax and are entitled to its benefits. The main point of satisfaction to me is the fact that Mr. McLaughlin has now altered his opinion and admits that politics is one-of the points of opposition to the scheme. What . a contradiction- he makes when he states it is the duty of the State to make accessible, and take such action as will provide, all the essentials of life: He then states that this must only be for a certain section of the community. All the past troubles of the country have been brought about by the differential treatment of different sections of the community. Even Mr. McLaughlin musthave heard about the class struggle and one of the ways to perpetuate the said struggle is to legislate for" certain sections of the community, one law for the rich and one for the poor. -I agree that workers should be raised to the status of the.professions; it is only because of the old-fashioned ideas of Mr. McLaughlin and his type that they are not already there. The point I was. making and wish to repeat is -this: If I a worker is not satisfied with his award conditions, he has either to submit to them or get out, and in spite of the fact that a doctor is not an employee, he, if he is not satisfied with the legislation, can also get out. I am not suggesting that he should, but making a comparison between the treatment suggested for two different sections of the community.—l am, etc., J. H. COLLINS. [The above letter has been considerably abridged, as the passage of the Bill makes it unnecessary to continue correspondence. In particular reference to the arguments- of Archdeacon Bullock and Dean Fancourt have been excised as these were replied to fully during the debate in the House of Representatives.—Ed.]