SECURITY SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 10

SECURITY SCHEME

PREPARATORY WORK IN HAND MR SAVAGE'S BELIEF ASSISTANCE OF MEDICAL PROFESSION (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 11. There was a great deal of spade work to be done before the Government's social security scheme could be launched on April 1, the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) said today. That was the reason why arrangements were made late last year for the executive control of the Social Security Department. The officers appointed were already at work and would be busy until the scheme was launched. The age benefits under the scheme should not cause much difficulty, Mr Savage said, because the Pensions Department already had that aspect under control, but a great deal of work would have to be done to establish the medical side of the scheme. The assistance of the medical profession would be of great help, and he believed that they would get it right from the start. Mr Savage said he had aimed at a scheme that would enable the individual to obtain the services of his own doctor. He did not want to see anyone forced to so to a doctor who did not have some confidence of the patient, and he did not want the people to have to line up to receive medical services.