HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1962-08-30, Page 6iurnlrl ing Up The
Medicare Crisis
The bitter local experience fn
Saskatchewan has alerted Can-
ada as a whole to the difficultles
it must face if it decides to estab-
lish a national health insurance
scheme.
Unhappy as it was at its incep-
tion, the Saskatchewan experi-
Ment may be a useful warning to
the nation, But however the
provincial scheme may be regard.,
ed, it is probably the forerunner
of a national scheme on some
other basis.
While the Saskatchewan Gov-
ernment was trying to force its
legislation on the medical pro-
fession and the doctors were re-
fusing to practice, except in cases
of emergency, a royal commis-
sion was studying a broad na-
tional approach to these prob-
lems, I t is expected to file a
report with the federal govern-
ment not long from now, and no
doubt it will take full account of
the quarrel in Saskatchewan, as
recently settled by compromise.
That Canada will adopt a na-
tional insurance scheme of some
kind appears certain, since all
political parties are committed to
it and the Progressive Conserva-
tive government has been strong-
ly criticized by the Liberal op-
position for delaying it.
The government replies that it
would be folly to undertake such
a costly project without the full-
est advance inquiry, the explora-
tion of all alternatives, the fig-
ures of prospective cost,
After what happened in Sas-
katchewan the government no
doubt is glad that it refused to
rapidly go ahead. In the light of
this experience most Canadians
realize now that medical insur-
ance under state control will be
more difficult and complicated
than it looks in the simplicities
of political debate.
Apart from everything else,
medical insurance raises grave
financial problems, Nevertheless,
the Canadian people, as reflected
in their Parliament, seem deter-
mined to have it in one form or
another to complement the pre-
sent scheme of hospital insur-
ance,
In the Saskatchewan experi-
ment they have learned several
lessons that will deeply influence
national policy later on.
First, It has been demonstrated
that no Canadian government
can compel the cooperation of
the medical profession. Like
other workers, the doctors can
go on strike as they did in Sas-
katchewan, though they did not
use that term.
The provincial government
made the mistake of enforcing
the insurance scheme before it
was sure that the doctors would
work under it, No Canadian gov-
ernment is likely to repeat this
mistake,
Second, it is clear that the
Saskatchewan public has no wish
to disturb the free and personal
relationship between doctors and
patients. It regards insurance as
purely a financial matter, a
method of paying medical costs
collectively with no state inter-
ference in the practice of medi-
cine, writes Bruce Hutchison in
the Christian Science Monitor.
The Saskatchewan government
denied throughout the recent
trouble that it wished to inter-
fere or that it was attempting to
turn doctors into civil servants.
But the wording of its legislation
convinced the d ctoae that it had
ISSUE 33 — 1962
taken the power to interfere and
might do so later if the law were
not clarified before the scheme
started.
The strike ended only when
the government agreed 10 sure -
Mon the Provincial Legislature
and rewrite the law generally
along the Lines of the doctors'
wishes.
Third, it is clear that private
insurance schemes, now covering
a large proportion of the Cana-
dian people, will not be abolished
and that doctors can practice
outside the public scheme if they
wish.
To this the Saskatchewan gov-
ernment has agreed, and any
province embracing state insur-
ance in any form is likely to do
likewise.
But everybody, whether he
wants state insurance or not, will
have to pay his share of the cost,
one way or another, in taxes.
Irving's Back At
Work—No Fooling
At 9:20 on a muggy morning
in New York City last month,
while most theater people were
in bed or on vacation, 74 -year-
old Irving Berlin strode briskly
up to the St. James Theater to
kick off rehearsals of "Mr. Pres-
ident." "Irving, what are you
trying to do?" asked a friend at
the door. "Make an entrance?"
Berlin was not so much mak-
ing an entrance as a re-entry —
about the most heralded re-entry
since Scott Carpenter's, In 1950
with "Call Me Madam," Berlin
quit .Broadway, and four years
later the most prolific (900 songs)
and popular composer of his day
retired completely front song -
writing.
"You can't manufacture hob-
bies," Berlin remarked as he ex-
plained his decision to write a
new show, "If your mind is ac-
tive you have to do something
with it. Even if it's bad. But if
you haven't done something for
twelve years, you get frightened.
Last year I just made up my
mind to eornmit myself."
Berlin committed himself to
what seemed a sure thing. His
collaborators on "Mr. President"
are Broadway names almost as
fabulous as his: Authors Howard
Lindsey and Russel Crouse, di-
rector Joshua Logan, producer
Leland Hayward, His stars are
Nanette Fabray and Robert Ryan,
and his theme contemporary poli-
tics. At first rehearsal the ad-
vance sale had soared to $1,6
million. "It scares me," said Ber-
lin. "It's the two sides of a coin.
On one side I'm flattered that, no
matter what, it will run for a
year. The other side is I'm scared
because I have to live up to it."
As Berlin walked into the St.
James, he mused about the re-
hearsal. "I'm anxious, but the
minute you do anything for an
audience you get a reaction, You
become enthusiastic and the mo-
mentum of enthusiasm keeps you
going,"
Backstage, Berlin stripped to
short sleeves. Then he stepped
in front of the rehearsal piano
and began singing his show. Ber-
lin's voice, a croak in 1918 when
he sang "Oh! How I Hate to Get
Up in the Morning," had weath-
ered to a creak in 1942 when he
appeared in his "This Is the
Army." Now it was a throaty
whisper but unmistakably Ber-
lin, Three hours later he belted
out the last song, a rhythmic,
flag-waving anthem which be-
gins: "This is a great country , ."
In salute to Berlin the cast ap-
plauded and joined in the patrio-
tic refrain. Berlin smiled and led
the singing.
BOOKED --- Albany, Ga., police carry a teen-ager from the
city's "white -only" library following a domonstration by
Negro anti-segragationists, The arrests came a6 lawyers
in the nearby courthouse argued the legality of such prof.*#
activities,
DRUG PROBE Dr. Frances Kelsey, Canadian -born and
educated Food and Drug Administration medical officer who
kept Thalidomide off the U.S, market, and George Larrick,
FDA commissioner, appear at Senate hearing in Washington,
The Senate committee is investigating the drug which may
have induced prenatal deformities in babies,
My temporary address as l
start this column is Stoney Lake,
about 30 miles north-east of
Peterborough, Joy and I and the
two little boys drove up here last
Tuesday to spend a few days
with Dee and her boys, It was
a beautiful day, the traffic wasn't
heavy and we made good time.
And then during the night it
started to rain and on Wednes-
day it rained and stormed off
and on all day. I never saw such
rain for so long a period. There
were short spells of clearing
during the day during which the
boys donned slickers and rubber
boots and enjoyed themselves
paddling in all the deep puddles.
Wednesday night it stormed
again but Thursday was more
promising so we took off to
Campbellford to visit my niece
Betty and her family — and then
we brought then back with us —
that is, Betty and two of her
children. So there we were,
three women and seven boys
ranging in age from eight months
to nine years. I couldn't see how
we were all going to get into one
cottage but Dee said it would
take a dozen. And it did... with
the help of two pullout couches
in the sunroom, another in the
living room, two rooms with
double beds, one with a crib, and
there was also a Boy Scout tent
and endless bedding. Facilities
for eating were also adequate
with a fair -size table in the
kitchen-livingroom and another
in the sunroom, Another "con-
venience" was a little house at
the hack of the lot which takes
the place of plumbing! Drinking
water has to be fetched from a
nearby store and washing water
from the dock. Two boats add to
everyone's enjoyment as well as
all kinds of garden chairs on a
well -treed lot right on the edge
of the lake.
We really had a wonderful
time but next time I go up I'm
going to wear a couple of ear-
plugs. When it was chilly Dee
was telling the boys to shut the
door each time they went in or
out. "Shut" doesn't describe
what they did, "Bang" would be
nearer the mark and every
bang went through my head until
what I have left in the way of
brains just about rattled together,
Going and coming from here to
the cottage we travelled along
wonderful , scenic roads as we
didn't always stick to the high-
way but cut across country, oc-
casienally along gravelled roads
with sometimes a swamp on eith-
er side and very few dwellings.
That is also what happened when
we went from Stoney Lake to
Campbellford, Incidentally, at
Campbellford I got quite a sur-
priae, I was introduced to sev-
eral girls and their parents who
are readers of this column, I lost
track of the number I met as.
there are nine in the family! And
they were all very busy as one •
of the girls was being married at
the end of the week. When we
got there they were arranging
the wedding presents and shower
gifts, There were many lovely
things -- I couldn't begin to de-
scribe them all — but one shower
gift struck me as being — not
exactly beautiful -- but decided-
ly original, The donor had
bought a collection of kitchen
gadgets, such as a grater, meas-
uring spoons, measuring cup,
clothes' pegs and so on and had
dolled them up with ribbons and
bows and packed them in en at-
tractive container. And that was
that, We also saw the bride's
dress — white, of course — but
street -length and not so fussy but
what it could be changed a bit
and worn as a party dress after-
wards, From all this excitement
we enticed my niece away, back
to the cottage with us along with
her son Michael and baby Step-
hen. Betty also has a daughter
Susan but Susan had previously
arranged a few days front home
with one of her little friends.
Betty's one condition in coming
back with us was that we must
guarantee to have her back in
time for the wedding the follow-
ing Saturday. Of course we
promised — what could be simpl-
er? What indeed!
We thought it was made even
easier as Art came up to the cot-
tage Friday night and as Dee
still had a bit of shopping to do
he said he might as well take
Betty back and they would shop
on the way home. So they start-
ed out, but alas Art's car isn't as
new as it might be and on the
somewhat rough cross-country
road that 1 mentioned before he
broke some kind of spring and
the brakes seized up, I don't
know the exact details. He and
Dee did get hack to the cottage
eventually but then Art had to
speed most of his Sunday morn-
ing in a garage getting his car
fixed. It would appeat it is some-
times better to choose a road for
smoothness rather than scenery.
Any way when Joy and I return-
ed home on Sunday we stuck to
the highways and got along fine,
Which means I am typing this
column from our usual home ad-
dress, Since I got home there
have been nothing but phone
calls, visitors — and one mis-
hap. Taffy was tied up outside
on a long rope. One time I heard
growling and snapping and
fours dTafiy being attacked by a
mongrel Shepherd dog. Taffy
was fighting right back but he
was no match for the size and
Fighting Against
Costly Funerals
In old-world communities from
Cork to Canton, the funeral has
always vied with the wedding as
a treasured excuse for interrupt-
ing workaday toil and appeasing
the human hunger for variety
and spectacle. In the modern
U,S., where diversions are more
plentiful, the elaborate funeral is
something of an anachronism,
Moreover, as a growing number
of infuential clergymen have be-
gun to insist, the all-out send off
for the esteemed departed may
be downright offensive.
Part of the clerical objection to
the funeral with frills arises
from humane concern for the
family which has to foot the bill,
Fifteen years ago, one could be
decently laid away fora cost of
from $300 to $50Q. Nowadays,
the figure is $900 to $1,200. More=
over, some clergymen argue that
an exaggerated fuss over a dead
body has pagan implications.
What these critics would like to
see substituted for the elaborate
funeral is a simple and expedi-
tious burial followed by a mem-
orial service,
Already a rooted trend, this
revolt against the old-time ob-
sequies has taken organized form
in the growing number of "mem-
orial societies" now spread across
the country. These are coopera-
tive grouts whose members pay
a nominal initiation fee ($2.12)
to insure the preplanned dispos-
al of their bodies (usually by cre-
mation), and a corpseless service
in a church instead of a funeral
parlor,
Much of the appeal of the
memorial societies (there are
close to 100 today) is patently
due to their success in shaving
the high cost of dying. In Chi-
cago, for example, since the local.
group (1,000 families) w a s
founded three years ago, the cost
Of services for deceased members
has averaged $260, as compared
with an average of $1,200 for
Chicago -area funerals.
Although the most outspoken
advocate ofthe memorial societ-
ies have been Unitarium minis-
ters, the Chicago Board of Rabbis
recently issued a statement of
concern over funeral practices
"which violate the letter and
spirit of Jewish tradition," And
last May, the Texas Synod of the
Presbyterian Church in the U.S.
(Southern) adopted a resolution
condemning "neo -pagan corpse
w_orship,"
If laymen are upset by heavy
expenses and clergy by lack of
religious tone, both object to
what they see as the vulgarity of
current funeral customs. "Most
services are stupid, barbaric, and
savage," says Rabbi Edgar F.
strength of the other and got bit-
ten on one ear, I was glad it
didn't happen while I was away
as Partner would have hated to
greet me with such unwelcome
news. Thank goodness, both dogs
had had rabies shots.
Magnin of Los Angeles. "Out
people," says Helen Farmer, sec•
retary of the Los Angeles mem.
oriel society (900 families),
"don't have to suffer the em-
barrassment of undignified cora
mercial services. Funeral direr
tors have brought this on them
selves -,- by putting high-pres
sure salesmen on bereaved fem•
ilies, by being garrulous and ob
noxious,"
Undertakers not only reser'
such criticism, but believe tit
memorial idea can only thrive ox
publicity; consequently, most re•
main as tight -Lipped as the
"everseal" caskets some of their
recommend, However, in a re•
cent issue of a mortuary trade
magazine, Ralph Head, president
of a chain of funeral homes an
California, opens up: "Without
a funeral director with creme-
tion facilities willing to provide
pickup , .. the memorial society
would be nothing more than a
propaganda organization trying
to sell an idea in exchange for a
$10 handout"
Although Head's bitterness is
shared by many morticians,
others see the societies as inevit-
able. Boston's Chester Eastman
feels that funeral directors will
simply have to adjust to the new
trends, "We're planning to stay
in business," he says, "by con-
ducting funerals the way people
want them conducted."
If the memorial societies are
here to stay, they are not going
to find Eastman's cooperative at-
titude everywhere. "The very
concept of the memorial society,"
said one more representative
funeral official recently, "is
alien to every principle of the
American way of life."
Modern Etiquette
By Anne Ashley
Q. What is the approved man-
ner in which ei married woman
has her personal stationery en-
graved?
A. In her married name, as,
"Mrs. Keith L. Morrison."
Q. How are canapes eaten?
A Canapes that are served be-
fore a meal are eaten with the
fingers and with cocktails in the
living room, At the table, how-
ever, they are eaten with the
f ork,
M
"Battle medals! I've beet
through a lot of engagements
but never got medals for
them"
SWEET VIOLETS — Mrs Willis Alderman tends some of tile
more than 40 varieties of African violets she raises by artifi-
cial light in her basement
P.' ..1!2R MEETS PRESIDENT — Prince Souvanna Phauma neutralist premier at Laos,
meets in the White House with President Kennedy,