OPERATING SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 84, 6 October 1944, Page 4

OPERATING SOCIAL SECURITY

Whenever members of the Opposition draw attention to weaknesses in the social security legislation,' they are accused by Government speakers of being opposed to the scheme \ as a whole. This attitude is to be regretted. It is the plain duty of members of Parliament, Government and Opposition alike, to watch the operation of the scheme and to endeavour, ..by bringing examples of injustices and anomalies to the notice of the responsible Minister, to effect improvements. During the lengthy discussion on the social security estimates' yesterday attention was drawn to a number of obvious anomalies and in almost every instance they arose from what the member for Manawatu (Mr. Oram) .described as "the harsh way in which the means test is applied." There can be no doubt that the means test, whether it is interpreted strictly or liberally, is responsible for many of the present anomalies, and the scheme can never be wholly satisfactory until it is modified and eventually abolished. In Britain the proposed social security plan is based on the principle that everybody should be liable to make his appropriate contribution and that everybody, should be able to claim appropriate benefits. In New Zealand the means test imposes limits on the benefits which certain classes can enjoy, although those classes are not relieved of any liability to contribute. In fact, in some cases they are called upon to make what amounts to a penal contribution. In its effects the means test operates most unfairly against those people who have chosen, in a commendable spirit of independence, to provide, by investment of savings, insurance, and other methods, for their own future. This being so, it is not unreasonable to question, as Mr. Oram did, the' effect, of social security on thrift in the minds of some people. If by exercising thrift, they are denying themselves benefits which their contributions have helped to make possible, they may well wonder whether there is any real virtue in being thrifty.

During yesterday's discussion attention was also drawn to the operation of the medical side of the social security scheme. The Prime Minister admitted that the present system was not the last word but had been adopted as the best scheme for the time being. We believe that the .Government made a

mistake when it rejected the plan submitted by the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. Briefly, this plan proposed that everybody should receive attention according to his needs. There is no doubt a lot to be said for Mr. Fraser's suggestion that it might be advisable in the future to consider a plan under which clinics would be established to enable practitioners and specialists to work together, although we do not think that doctors would welcome the idea of becoming employees of the State. So far as the general medical service is concerned, however, we believe it would be advisable for the Government to work back to the original proposals made by the B.M.A. Indeed, the operation of any satisfactory clinic scheme, would require this, for otherwise the general practitioner part of the service Would be available under social security, but all the rest (unless it were based on general hospital service) would be a charge upon the patient. j