FREE MEDICAL SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1940, Page 8

FREE MEDICAL SERVICE

MR. FRASER’S STATEMENT [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, May G. 1 The intention of-the: Government. to proceed with, a free medical practitioner service and a free out-patient hospital scheme under the Social Security Act was announced by the Epime Minister (Mr. Fraser) when addressing a meeting at Ponsdnby tonight in support of. tile official Labour Party candidate for Auckland West, Mr. P. Carr. “It is the Government’s policy to bring the whole of the benefits provided in the Act into operation,” Mr. Fraser said. He referred to criticism that had occurred because all the benefits were not introduced immediately, and quoted from the Act the clause concerning the introduction of benefits at the earliest possible date on which effective arrangements for their administration could be brought into operation. After paying tribute to the work of the medical profession in peace and war, Mr. Fraser said he was anxious •that the profession should co-operate with th® Government in providing the most efficient medical - service for the people of the Dominion'. H 6 traced the history of negotiations with the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, and. said that in February he asked the association' to enter on discussions with a view to the inauguration of a practitioner' service in as .fair and comprehensive a manner as possible. The reply given by representatives iof the association was’ that they could not see their way to enter on the suggested negotiations. They stated further, in the most courteous fashion, that the absence from practice of many of their members, who had joined the Expeditionary Force, had thrown a very heavy extra burddn on the rest' of thdm, and accordingly they had considered the time most inopportune for even a discussion on the matter. “I then indi-cated-that such a, reply could not be accepted by the Government, which was authorised by a large majority of the people to proceed with the scheme, and-which was pledged to do so.’ 4 " • Mr. Frasei" expressed the hope that the matter could be settled at around Üble discussion. He said, however, thai the Health 7 Department had been instructed to prepare details of both a free medical practitioner service, and a free out-patient scheme. As soon as it was possible to start the free ’out-patieyt service at’ hospia.ls, it would be done.