NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23002, 3 October 1936, Page 19

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —In regard to the proposal of the Government to bring in a Bill for national health insurance, it would be well for public attention to be drawn to the rather stupendous and mtricato problem that faces the farmers. The Government is confronted with a perfect forest of difficulties. I think lam right in saying that in England, Min isteries of Health came and went be fore even a reasonably equitable scheme was battered out. To copy the English Act would not suffice, for the different conditions, social and industrial, make each country’s problem a local and practically original one. That the best brains in the medical community should be at work on this is obvious, and I invite vour assistance in this direction. If there is one man who stands indisputably at the head of medicine in New Zealand to-day. it is Sir Louis Barnett. He occupies here j without fear of challenge a position , similar to that enjoyed by ‘he late Lord Moynihan in England. He has ■ been professor of surgery, leading New ; Zealand surgeon and administrative J head of nearly everything connected ' with the profession for years. A i founder of the Royal Australasian ( College of Surgeons, he has been the

most trusted man in all the advances promoted for its rapid evolution. Today, his advice is unquestionably the “ ultima thule ” for the executive. That the Government can possibly turn out a scheme which vyill work without this man’s sagacious help and control is to most of us unthinkable. I wonder, Sir, if the young generation of doctors remember the beneficence ano generosity of Sir Louis to the Otago Unisity. He not only presented the sum of £BOOO representing the amount of remuneration he had received to the time of his retirement, but he made later on a further donation of £IOOO to its funds. Such generosity to a public institution from one who had laboured hard in its service is, I think, unparalleled in New Zealand—l am. etc A T Hill 63 Stuart street, October 2