SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

Southland Times, Issue 23548, 30 June 1938, Page 4

SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

Doctors Seek Copy Of Bill LIBERTY OF ACTION RESERVED “CO-OPERATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSION NECESSARY”

(Special tc The Times) WELLINGTON, June 29. An important statement about the social security Bill which is to be submitted to Parliament was made to the Press today by Dr J. P. S. Jamieson, of Nelson, president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. Dr Jamieson stated that in view of the expected early introduction of the measure to Parliament, and in view of the far-reaching effects, especially in its medical proposals, which the Bill, if passed, must have upon the people of New Zealand, the time had arrived when it was necessary to call public attention to the actual position. “Whatever the nature of the scheme,” he said, “it is obvious that its medical provisions cannot be carried out successfully without the co-operation of the medical profession which is represented by Hie association. The Government itself is fully aware of this, because on more than one occasion during the past 12 months, the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Health, indicated to representatives of the association that the co-operation of the profession was necessary and that the Government could not introduce any scheme which had not the support of a substantial proportion of the profession. “Under these circumstances,” Dr Jamieson continued, “we naturally expected that when the Government had completed its scheme it would be. submitted, in confidence, to the association for that practical advice and criticism which the association has always given and is still ready to give. “Notwithstanding that the profession has, during the last two years, given all the assistance it properly could in the absence of reciprocal information, I very much regret to state that at no stage has the Government disclosed its actual intentions; even in confidence. The general outline given by the Prime Minister’s broadcast on April 2 remains still the only indication of what may be incorporated in the Bill. “If the Bill has been drafted we have received neither an advance copy nor any information as to when we may expect one. If it is not drafted it is obvious that in the circumstances, and with the session now open, it will be impossible to estimate the probable effects of a measure of that sort. “We have previously pointed out, though we are conscious of deficiencies to be progressively remedied, that there is nothing clamant in the nation’s health to justify such war-time secrecy and haste. “Not being acquainted with the Government’s final proposals, the association, of course,'has no criticism to offer at the present stage, but it reserves to itself the right of liberty of action when the Bill is produced, and will then state its views on the case to the public, whose interests are so much concerned.”

MEASURE NOT BEFORE CABINET REPLY TO STATEMENT BY ASSOCIATION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 29. “No one outside the Cabinet has a right to know the contents of a Bill until it has been brought before Parliament,” said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview this evening when referring to a statement made by the president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, Dr J. P. S. Jamieson, that so far the branch had not received an advance copy of the social security Bill. Mr Savage indicated, however, that it was not difficult for anyone who had followed the position to gain a very fair idea of the likely nature of the Government’s proposals. “So far the Bill has not come before the Cabinet, even in draft form,” Mr Savage said, “and in these circumstances, it is quite unreasonable for the British Medical Association to expect a copy of the Bill or any specific information about its contents. The nature of the proposals in the Bill will not be made known until it is introduced in Parliament and when that is done the medical profession will have precisely the same opportunity as any other section of the people to study it “The British Medical Association is not the only organization interested in the proposed legislation,” the Prime Minister added. “Friendly societies, for instance, are vitally interested in our proposals. In fact, their existence practically depends on the decision the Government will make. Yet they have offered unconditional support in the launching of the scheme. Mr Savage said that after the Bill became law numerous regulations dealing with the administration of the scheme would be necessary and the British Medical Association and other interested organizations would be consulted when those matters were being considered. “The British Medical Association seems to want to be put on a pedestal,” Mr Savage added. “I, for one, am not going to help to put them there.”