SOCIAL SECURITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 14

SOCIAL SECURITY

CALIFORNIAN SCHEME DOCTORS EVOLVE OWN PLAN A competitive social security system arranged by Califoruian doctors' as a means of opposing a proposed State scheme was described yesterdav bv Mr H. Lutgens, director of the C«alif6rnian State Department of Institutions and a member of the Civil Service Commission of California, who passed through Auckland by the Monterey yesterday on his way to Australia. California had investigated a scheme for social security rather similar to the ono being adopted in New-Zealand, said air. Lutgens. It had met with considerable opposition from the medical profession, who, however, instead of confining themselves to criticism, had evolved a scheme of their own to circumvent the State proposal. Under the doctors' plan people with moderate incomes would receive medical attention at special rates. Doctors generally were opposed to interference with private initiative in medicine and to the establishment of fixed salaries. That was how the position stood at present The rival sections of opinion were at each end of a see-saw and it was still to bo seen which would eventually prevail.