ITEMS FROM AUSTRALIA

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1945, Page 6

ITEMS FROM AUSTRALIA

(Special “Argus” Correspondent) ■ADELAIDE AUGUST 8. The Hon. Mr. J. G. Barclay, New Zealand High Commissioner in Australia, and Mrs. Barclay, recently paid Adelaide a visit. A statement by Mr. Barclay on social security has aroused great interest throughout the state of South Australia. Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Barclay, during their stay in the state made a special journey to visit Mrs. H. E. Holland, wife of the former leader of the New Zealand Parliamentary Labour Party. It was on the seventy-eighth birthday of Mrs. Holland that the visitors arrived. THE RAINS CAME! All South Australia was jubilant when the drought—the worst on record —broke. The country, which was burned and scorched after such a gruelling couple of years, with practically no rain, soon became carpeted with green, and prospects were bright for a good growth of feed within the following weeks. However, the rains have been very disappointing, falling everwhere but in the essential places. The follow-on rains, after the first break, have only been very light. Therefore _ the fodder position is still very, serious. . Grave warnings had been issued prior to July 31 that by that date there would be no stock-feed in South Australia. This State was originally allocated 3,400,000 bushels to cover the period from January 1 to November 30, 1945. Of this, by June 2, 2% million bqshels had been consumed by feeders. We find it extremely hard to purchase wheat for fowls. We used to buy it by the bag, but were gradually reduced to one bushel, then half a bushel and for weeks were allowed only a shilling’s worth weekly, till last week none was available. How we will fare this, week yet remains to be seen. The depletion of the reservoirs has caused great concern and feeling is running high against the Playford State Government for . its failure and lack of foresight in such an important matter. Very little rain has fallen at all in the catchment areas—in fact the intake is only half that during the 1914 drought, and with an increased population since that date, and an extra- heavy drain on the water supply due to the many war industries in the State, the water situation is most grave. For some weeks now all watering of gardens, by hose or any other means has been forbidden and to save what we can of our gardens every household carries all its bath water and washing suds in a vain attempt to save vegetables and fruit trees. Fancy this in mid-winter! We have been warned that, because of drought conditions, thre will be practically no vegetables at all during summer. It is absolutely heartbreaking watching everything shrivelling up. EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM! An estimated total of 20- million sheep have died throughout the Commonwealth as the result of this drought, and naturally this has brought about many' serious “cuts” in the meat supplies. Our butcher is getting a “cut” of about 300 lbs in lamb alone each week, with a promise of more cuts to come. So serious is the position that every butcher must take fifty-five per cent, of his meat quota in frozen meat. Purchasing the daily meat supplies is almost as bad as attending a bargain sale. As no meat deliveries are allowed, all line up in a queue and wait anything like forty-five minutes to an hour; and to definitely decide ahead on the day’s dinner is out of the question,—one takes without comment whatever is available—the butcher usually is the deciding factor. Whether meat coupons last the period no longer worries one and everybody seems always to have plenty these days. To get the meat is the main issue! To say that some meals are weird concoctions is mild If we are running late getting to the butchers we may come home with a couple of saveloys, a sausage, and maybe a chop or two. However, everyone is good-humoured over the whole affair. Such items as the one-time-looked-down-upon tripe, liver, and brains must be ordered a day or two beforehand. One day I heard a lady order an ox-tail, and the butcher told her he would put her name down but she would have to wait three weeks! And the sausage has become a far greater mystery than ever. Considering sausages are coupon -free, one does wonder just what is hidden beneath its jacket. The women-folk over here are seriously considering taking their knitting to while away the time at the butchers. SOCIAL SECURITY

The B.M.A. in this country is fighting the Federal Labour Government’s plan for free medicine just as it did in New Zealand . The following curcuilar issued to B.M.A. members was displayed in surgery waitihg rooms:— “Members of the medical profession throughout Australia are not prepared to order medicines for you from the formulary issued under the Commonwealth Government’s free medicine scheme, nor are they prepared to use the forms on which the Government says that prescriptions from the • formulary must be written. “The reason for this is that the only medicines which are free are those included in the formulary. If your illness needs a different medicine and the doctors order it for you, then you will have to pay for it. “As your doctor knows best what medicine you should have, he should have complete freedom to order what he considers necessary in your intereste, and should not be forced to give you something from a set list prepared by. the Government. “It is this injustice to you which the medical profession is trying to prevent. If the Government produces a scheme under which all prescriptions will be free, the doctors will be prepared to consider their attitude.” A spokesman for the B.M.A. said that members would not be compelled to sign the pledge. The public would be denied the best treatment if doctors were restricted in their choice of drugs and preparations. On the other hand there is a circuilar from the South Australian branch of the Australian Labour Party, “What Labour Does for the People,” containing the following information:

“Social Services:— Maternity allowances: (1943): Where no “other children” £5, where 1 or 2 “other children” £6, where 3 or more “other children” £7 10s; additional to above payment of 25s per week for four weeks before and four weeks after the birth;— making:— First child £l5. second and third child £l6, fourth and thereafter £l7 10s. (1944) Increases provided for mothers of twins and triplets; age limit of “other children” raised from 14 to 16 years. Child Endowment: To be increased from 5s to 7s 6d per week for every child under 16 after the first, as from July 1, 1945. Pharmaceutical (free medicine) Service: Bill introduced 1944 to provide free medicine for all members of the family; this service will, in all probability, commence on July 1. Widows’ pensions: (introduced in 1943): Widows over 50 years of age, £1 7s per .week, if property does not exceed £5O; widows of any age, with a dependent child, £1 12s per week, if property does not exceed £1000; widows under 50 years, in necessitous cercumstances. £1 ,7s per week for six months. Old age and invalid pensions:— 1940—21 s per week; 1942—Increased to 23s 6d per week; 1943—Subject to a means test, a maximum allowance of 15s to the wives of invalid or old age pen-.

sioners, plus 5s for the first child, (the latter payment not subject to means test); 1945 —As from J'ulyl, raised to 32s 6d. Funeral benefits: Up to £lO payable towards funeral expenses of former old age or invalid pensioners. For the Services:—Fay rates (T.-10): servicemc-". ss; dependent 3s, first child Is 6d, second child Is 6d: (1944 increments) 6s 6d, 4s 6d, 3s, 2s. Pensions: All increased on May 1943, by about twenty per cent. Gratuities (in addition to deferred pay) 2s 6d a day overseas and for specific periods after return; also 6d per day in Australia. ‘ine Gratuity wifi exceed £63,000,000 to June 30 last. The Total gratuity for the ’.ast war was £27,000,000 (paid by Labour Government). Unemployment and sickness benefit: —This measure to provide cash benefits to cover these risks, was introduced by the Curtin Labour Government in March 1944. and placed upon the Statute Book to honor their election promise of August, 1943, and the cash benefits became operative as from July 1, 1945:—Unemployment and sickness rates (per week) fo.lowing 7 days absence.—Single persons: Between ages 16 and 18 years 15s, between ages 18 and 21 years 20s, all other cases 255; married persons: husband 255, wife 20s. first child ss. The following do not disqualify for unemployment sickness benefits:—ownership of one’s home; an income of 20s per week (from any source); approved Friendly Societies benefits, and Union sickness fund benefits. Moveable income for minors (16 to under 21 years) ranges from 5s to 15s a week. Hospital benefits (approved but not yet in operation). By agreement between the Commonwealth and all States, any person will be admitted to a public hospital free of charge. If admitted to an approved private hospital, the Commonwealth will pay £2 2s per week toward expenses. Non-coritributory, but not. charity: These benefits are derived from the National Welfare Fund, established by Labour in 1942, and financed from Consolidated Revenue.