SOCIAL AIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22694, 5 April 1937, Page 12

SOCIAL AIMS

LABOUR IN TASMANIA PROPOSED HEALTH SCHEME RECENT FEDERAL REFERENDUM The interest displayed by Australians in the social legislation being carried out b.v the Labour Government in New Zealand was mentioned by the Premier of Tasmania, the Hon. A. G. Ogilvie, who was a through passenger by the Mariposa on Saturday. Mr. Ogilvie's brother, the Hon. E. J. Ogilvie, holds the portfolio of Health in the Tasmanian Cabinet.

Mr. Ogilvie is travelling via America to attend the Empire Parliamentary Conference in London. He will fly to New York from San Francisco and, after the proceedings in London have concluded, he intends to spend a week in France as*the guest of the Government. Before returning to Australia he will visit the East, where he hopes to investigate the possibilities for developing the trade in Tasmanian apples, of which 5,000,000 cases are produced annually. Small Budget Surplus After being leader of the Labour Party in Tasmania from 1929 Mr. Ogilvie became Premier in 1934, when a slender balance of power was given the party by a single social credit member. Last February Mr. Ogilvie went again to the country, to be returned with a majority of six members. This year, ho said, a small surplus would be shown, but the fact that it was a surplus was remarkable, as the Government had not refrained from undertaking an active public works policy, including a hydro - electric scheme at a cost of £1,500,000. For three years this project had provided work for 1500 men.

"As a Labour Government we brought in a bill for the introduction of the 40-liour week, but the measure was defeated in the Upper House," Mr. Ogilvie said. "Generally speaking, I would say that three years ago we were in despair, but the Government expenditure and the general improvement have made a very definite change in the psychology of our community." State and Commonwealth Powers Discussing the recent referendum on the subject of State and Commonwealth powers on the issues of aviation and marketing, Mr. Ogilvie said it had illustrated the difficulty of securing amendments to the Constitution, and he was convinced that these coukl only be brought when both parties were advocating the change. The referendum was remarkable in that an overwhelming majority of the people had voted against the proposals in the face of all the Governments, with the exception of South Australia and Tasmania, urging support for the amendments.

One of the recent measures adopted by the Tasmanian Government was a national health scheme, of which the first step would be the appointment of doctors in remote areas, in the same manner as the teachejs in State schools were allocated. Their services would be available without fee, while at present they would operate in districts where other medical aid was not available, it was hoped ultimately to furnish doctors throughout the State. They would also undertake the supervision of the health of the children in State schools. *