THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1949 “FREE” MEDICINE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4126, 22 April 1949, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1949 “FREE” MEDICINE

Social Security is now accepted as a permanent feature of New Zealand’s social and economic life but that fact would not justify indifference to its shortcomings. It was in this spirit that Mr W. B. Brown, Grand Master of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, drew the attention of the conference at New Plymouth in his annual report to the huge sums being spent on “ free ” medicine. In five years the cost has increased from £563,000 to £1,558,000 with the number of prescriptions almost doubling, from 3,500,000 to 6,200,000. Commenting on this, Mr Brown emphasised that Social Security is subjected to no actuarial limitations and that expenditure apparently can go on increasing so long as there is a taxable national capacity to find the money. When and if the income falls Social Security revenue will decline, while calls on the fund will continue. This fact underlines the obvious wastage that is going on in the “ free ” medicine service. The cost and the number of prescriptions are now beyond all anticipation and in part they explain why Social Security is costing more than £35 a year for every person in the country in taxation that is a direct charge over and above income tax supplemented from the Consolidated Fund. It is not surprising that the term “ free ” medicine is being queried with greater frankness and with a growing demand that the extravagant and wasteful use of drugs, pills and potions . should be reduced. *