NATIONAL MEDICAL SERVICE.

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 5

NATIONAL MEDICAL SERVICE.

TO THE EDITOR. ( Sir, —“ Layman’s ” letter just does not > make sense." If ever any newspaper cone-. • spoil dent' was ignominiously torn . tosmithereens it is “Layman’s” protege, by' the clean-cut letters of Mr Dove and of Dr Newlands himself. To pretend differ- -a ently is moonshine. —l am, etc., - ' - a April 15. Sanitas, s ii TO THE EDITOR. i Sir, —Why does Mr Nbrdmoyer not turn J his attention to National Security, instead * of this so-called Social Security, when the very existence of this country is at stake? He may not realise the gravity of the international situation, but he must have some idea of how overworked the depleted : medical profession is at present. It seems unfair to hinder their efforts, one of which is war work, for political expediency. He may believe that this country is so wealthy, and has so much spare man-power, that the 250 extra Civil servants required to work this nebulous scheme can easily be found without hindering New Zealand’s war effort. What is his little game?—l am, etc., Le Quesnoy. April 15. TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —This country has in the past been noted for -the high standard of professional men it produced, as indicated by the many who are offered positions in England during the completion of their studies. Under the Government’s “ futility scheme ” a doctor has a panel of a certain number. It need not perturb him one jot, so long as he answers the call, whether he prescribes for malaria, when it possibly is appendicitis ; whether he cures or kills, he still gets his salary. A mentality much below that of the average New Zealander is surely capable of seeing the great mistake in the scheme, inasmuch as it eliminates thft *

necessity and the stimulus to become proficient and still more proficient in the highest calling of man, the conquest over human pain. Under the scneme it is inevitable that the professional status is to bo shamefully reduced to a remunerative and socalled aristocratic occupation, which will in due course reap its own reward —i.e., a lack and scarcity of really learned and competent medicos and surgeons. The advocates of the scheme will no doubt admit what a wonderful country this has been and might be, and the status it held, at least until a few years ago, and they must also—nay, more so—admit that it was not regimentation or national socialisation that brought this country to that status—nothing else .but private enterprise, personal ingenuity, and willingness to work on tha part of our fathers before us. One has only to try to find, one socialised industry which can stand on its own- feet and merits to visualise the result of governmental regi'nicntation.of Ihe' people.. Governments cannot produce,' by any Act, ■people of high capacity, and learning. Tha rudiments of such a" class are only begotten •by one’s individual’inner: Self; and matures in one’s progeny who promulgate the high ideals of character with which is incorporated capability, in any applicable vocation or profession,—I J am, etc., Pioneer. April 16.