“ ~ Provide Medical Care Now! By EILEEN ROBINS The experience of Canadians with Provincial hospitalization plans has highlighted the need for complete medical care for all who need it. Some figures I came across the other day show that we spend almost as much on doctors’ and dentists’ fees, prescribed drugs and out-of-hospital nursing, as we do on hospital care. If legislation for hospital care is necessary, why not carry it to its logical conclusion and provide complete medical care? There’s an old saying that half a loaf is better than none, and hospital insurance is certainly better than no health protection at all. But a whole loaf is better than just a half, and full medical care would be so much better than the partial protection we now enjoy. Wage-Earner Look at the case of a wage-earner, stricken with heart trouble. So long as he is sent to hospital, he can re- ceive the necessary medical care and drugs under existing hospital plans. What happens when he is well enough to leave hospital? He has to finance privately any further nursing or special drugs he may continue to need. How much will his concern over all these expenses affect his recovery? Will he feel able to com- plete his cure properly? There are no handy statistics to answer these questions, but a num- ber of doctors have pointed to these two factors alone slowing down re- covery. If the man remains in hos- pital these expenses would be cov- ered. Because he is well enough to go home, he is faced with an extra burden, Undoubtedly, many patients who do not require a hospital bed are admitted by sympathetic doctors who realize that the patient cannot afford the cost of care as an out- patient. Drug Bills What of the person who, for one reason or another, is not able to enter a hospital? Two years ago, when I developed pneumonia and pleurisy after the birth of my son, I could not go into hospital for the simple reason that my husband was away and there was literally no one to leave my children with. So I stayed home and before I was well * again, my drug bill was nearly $75.00. If I had gone to hospital, the drug cost would have been cov- ered by my hospitalization insur- ance. Clearly, a health insurance plan which covers only hospitalization is penalizing those Canadians whose sickness needs will not be helped by entering hospital. Chronic illness can sap an income just as badly as the acute attack requiring emergency hospital treatment. Public Opinion During the last few years public opinion about the means of provid- ing health care for all Canadians has changed sharply—a look at the Gal- lup Polls will confirm this. A ma- jority of Canadians obviously wants a comprehensive government plan financed through taxation of some kind or other. In the scramble for votes both the old parties now claim to be in favor of the orderly provision of health care. But their record of action in this regard speaks for itself. The Liberals started promising health care back in 1919. They had over 20 years in power, yet instead of introducing a comprehensive health care plan, they had the sub- ject enquired into, studies, surveyed and Royal Commissioned, until many people forgot that the Liberals had originally promised it. Royal Commission The Conservatives have appointed yet- another Royal Commission, which will keep health care out of the area of legislation until the next election is well out of the way. Baby Carriage Trade Aids Canada A story in The Financial Post (May 19) tells how a Canadian manufacturer has succeeded in the U.S.A. market with a Canada-made baby carriage. Canadian salesman- ship in this line has been so good that “many a New York baby now rides around in a handsome Cana- dian carriage”. We admire this Canadian initia- tive but, from the consumer view- point, we shiver at this aspect of the sales pitch: “Even when you have a good de- sign to start with, you have to change and improve it if you want to keep on selling to Americans—or to anyone else, for that matter. Talk about cars! You have to make model changes in the baby-carriage line every year too, Sometimes they are small modifications but in 1962 our stroller was completely redesigned. That’s how you renew interest: in your product.” Wer THERE It is your Guarantee that you can‘t buy a better Glove ANYWHERE Union Made by JOHN WATSON LTD. | Ave,, E, Vancouver B.C. . NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)—Gov- ernment loans and grants are for developing businesses and not for buying wives, African business- men were told. Fred Okuma, general secretary of the Kenya African Chamber of Commerce, circulated a letter to all members declaring: “You are undermining our ef- Grants Not For Wives Both the Liberals and Tories be- lieve in action if necessary, but not necessarily action, to paraphrase the late procrastinating Prime Minister Mackenzie King. Vocal Section The present government has been aided in its stalling tactics by a vocal section of the organized medi- cal profession. Doctors, says their propaganda, are against the idea of a government-organized health plan. Health, according to the doctors’ spokesmen, should be the concern only of the patient and his doctor. A national insurance plan would in- terfere with the special relationship between doctors and their patients. I am inclined to think that there isn’t anything specially good in a relationship which would break down as a result of the doctor receiving payment in the form of a govern- ment cheque instead of directly from the patient. Such a plan, the doc- tors say, would also interfere with the right of the individual to choose the doctor or specialist he wishes. This is nonsense, and I think the doctors know that it’s nonsense. Desperate Battle However, they are fighting the desperate battle of those who know that they are defeated, and their nonsense is the nonsense of despair. Canada is going to have a plan which will ensure that every man, woman and child among us who needs health care will receive it, re- gardless of ability to meet the cost. How soon such a plan is brought in depends on what kind of govern- ment sits in Ottawa. Let’s make sure that after the next election we shall have a government which will act sooner rather than later. forts by not using this money to develop your businesses. That’s what the money has been loaned to you for—and not just for buy- ing wives.” One African businessman re- torted that wives were an invest- ment, particularly if they produce girl children who would later bring in the money suitors pay for brides. BA REGIONAL IST VICE-PRESIDENT, Jack a ) : ‘ 4 er. -. cai woe 2», Sa Moore presents President Joe Morris and Mrs. Morris with a sterling flatware set on YOUR MONEY'S WORTH by Sidney Margolius EFERRAL PLANS” i] DON'T BE A SHILL FOR"R @oops sorp on Yes REFERRAL PLANS USUALLY ARE PRICED VERY HIGH. THESE PLANS PROMISE YOU BONUSES IF YOU GET YOUR FRIENDS TO BUY. BUT YOU FIRST HAVE TO BUY THE ITEM YOURSELF, AND YOU SIGN A CONTRACT AGREEING TO PAY THE FULL PRICE WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS BUY. MANY DISILLUSIONED FAMILIES REPORT THEY NEVER DO EARN BONUSES. wee QUATURE ABHORS A VACUUM ex, THAT COSTS $220. WHY PAY THAT ey MUCH—OR $500 FOR A FIRE-ALARM B°° SYSTEM—EVEN WITH A PROMISE my OF BONUSES? YOU CAN BUY: HIGH-QUALITY BRANDS OF THESE GOODS AT LESS THAN HALF THESE PRICES! AT THE RIGHT. WHEN YOU BUY CIGARS INSIST ON THE LABEL AT THE LEFT. Ontario Brief Seeks Bureau For Women The Provincial Council of Wo- men called on the Ontario Depart- ment of Labour to set up a women’s bureau to meet the needs of women in trades and professions. Although the federal Labour De- partment has established such a bu- reau, Ontario officials admitted no thought had been given to its count- erpart on the provincial level. The Council of Women’s brief, submitted by Mrs. Edna M. Cutt, of Orillia, also urged the govern- ment to amend the existing Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act so that an association acting on be- half of a woman could launch a complaint. At present, complaints must be initiated by individuals — a fact which reduces the effective- ness of the legislation. The council suggested further means be found by the Department of Education for informing the pub- lic of the possibilities of its retrain- ing program and asked that consi- deration be given to more retraining of women workers. Infra-red Heat Peels Fruit A machine that uses infra-red heat to peel apples, tomatoes, peaches and plums has been de- vised by Dr. E. A. M. Asselbergs, 35-year-old research scientist with the federal agriculture department. The fruit is put on a belt that carries it through 3,000-degree infra- red heat. Apples are exposed for 25 to 30 seconds. Tomatoes, plums and peaches move more quickly and are exposed for only four or five seconds. When the fruit is taken off the machine the skin peels as easily as that of a banana. A unit that would remove the peel mechanically is still being developed. as behalf of the Regional Council during the party held to honour them May 19, at Woodworkers’ House. Group left, Regional 2nd Vice-President, Bob Ross; Mrs. Morris; Jack Moore; Joe Morris; Regional 3rd Vice-President, Jack MacKenzie; seated Mrs. Jack Moore and Mrs. Jack MacKenzie. CREDIT UNION DIRECTORY IWA Credit Unions and other Credit Unions supported by IWA Local Unions in B.C. Alberni District Credit Union, Head Office: 211 Argyle St., Port Al- berni, B.C. Alberni Branch: 280 Merrifield St., Alberni, B.C. IWA 1-217 Savings, Broadway & Quebec Streets, Vancouver 10 IWA (N.W.) Credit Union, Room 21, 774 Columbia Street, New Westminster Local 1-118, IWA (Victoria), 904 Gordon Street, Victoria Chemainus & District Credit Union, Box 229, Chemainus Lake Cowichan and District Credit Union, Lake Cowichan, B.C. Courtenay Credit Union, Box 952, Courtenay Duncan & District Credit Union, Box 1717, Duncan Prince George & District, 1046 - 4th Avenue, Prince George Noenaimo & District Credit Union, 499 Wallace St., Nanaimo Lodysmith & District Credit Union, Box 154, Ladysmith, B.C. United Labour Credit Union, 1475 East 43rd, Vancouver Salmon Arm Credit Union, Shuswap Ave., Salmon Arm, B.C. BACK SCHEME The Young Women’s Christian Association of Canada and _ the Canadian Association of Social Workers backed the idea of a go- vernment-run health scheme. Both organizations told the royal commission on health services the existing system of voluntary health insurance is inadequate. Royal Castle Under Union Contract STOCKHOLM — It’s all very well to have a job in one of the royal castles, but about 100 em- ployees of King Gustav have picked a trade union in order to have their conditions of employ- ment settled. Joining the Civil Servants’ Union, an affiliate of the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) were drivers, charwomen, kitchen workers, silver cleaners, butlers and table-layers. Negotia- tions have opened on a contract with wage increases and hours of work. The LO said “the royal em- ployer has asked for assistance during the negotiations by ex- perts of the Ministry for Civil Service Affairs.” Labour Party Appoints Woman Labour’s new National Agent, who will play a key role in organiz- ing the party for the next general election, is a 58-year-old woman, Miss Sara Barker. She is the first woman among the six national agents in the history of the party and is believed to be the first woman to hold such a post in any major political party. Miss Barker, who comes from a keen Labour family, has been active in the movement since she was 16. Her first full-time appointment was as Labour Agent in Halifax. She was later Yorkshire Regional Wo- men’s Organizer for 10 years until she was appointed an assistant na- tional agent at head office about 10 years ago. CLARKE’S FLOWERS FRESHER... LOVELIER...FOR ALL OCCASIONS 100% UNION SHOP 3418 Cambie Street, Vancouver 9, B.C. Free Delivery TRinity 4-9416