FORMER MINISTER WANTED COMPULSORY TREATMENT SCHEME

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1950, Page 6

FORMER MINISTER WANTED COMPULSORY TREATMENT SCHEME

DUNEDIN, This Day (P.A.).—“lt is to be regretted that the Government is not prepared to link up the medical examination of 18-year-olds under the compulsory military training with the national health scheme,” said the former Minister of Defence. Mr F. Jones, today. “When this question was before the people, various speakers stressed the importance of such medical examination and how it should form part of our health services.” Mr Jones added that that was again stressed when the Bill was being passed in the House of Representatives. It was generally agreed that the medical examination should be most thorough and that those lads who were rejected for military service because of some defect or disability should, as far as possible, receive remedial treatment. “It was never intended that this work should be undertaken by the military services” said Mr Jones. “It is clearly the responsibility of the Minister of Health, who should have this service provided as soon as possible. “The call-up of over 12,000 lads each year is a wonderful opportunity to establish such a scheme and if steps are taken to provide remedial treatment for those who are rejected, it will certainly be giving them a chance to be restored to full health. I think that the present Government should carry out the promise of the Labour Government to provide such a health service,” he concluded.