XN000022-1979-03-28 — Page 7

6

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1979

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE HEAVY PRESSURE ON OUR SOCIAL SERVICES IS TO BE FOUND IN OVERCROWDING HOSPITALS, WHERE CAMP BEDS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETELY ELIMINATED, MR. LOBO CONTINUED,

HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM IS MAINLY DUE TO OUR OWN POLICY OF INSTANT ADMISSION TO A REGIONAL HOSPITAL OF EVERY QUALIFYING CASE, AND IS MADE WORSE IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCIES WHEN CASUALTIES FROM ACCIDENTS HAVE TO BE HANDLED.

HE SAID IT IS IRONIC THAT THIS RESULTS FROM A MORE LIBERAL POLICY THAN IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE U.K. WHERE PATIENTS ARE SIMPLY NOT ADMITTED AT ALL IF THE BEDS ARE OCCUPIED.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO BE ELIMINATED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND MUST BE AGGRAVATED BY THE RAPID ARTIFICIAL INCREASE IN POPULATION.

+ IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE SHOULD CONSIDER ENLARGING THE COMMUNITY NURSING SCHEME WHICH HAS POTENTIAL BEYOND ITS PRESENT SCOPE.

+WE CAN ALSO RE-EXAMINE THE CASE FOR CONVALESCENT HOMES OR 'SOME OTHER FORM OF HALF-WAY HOUSE',+ HE SAID.

MR. LOBO ALSO SPOKE OUT FOR MIDDLE-CLASS TAX-PAYERS WHOM HE DESCRIBED AS THE CLASS IN THE MIDDLE.+

+THEY HAVE NOT BEEN THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF PUBLIC PROGRAMMES BUT HAVE CERTAINLY NOT BEEN RICH ENOUGH TO ESCAPE THE EFFECTS OF RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, HE SAID.

HE SAID THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COPE WITH HIGH RENTS AND WHO HAVE TO USE BADLY-RUN FRANCHISED SERVICES.

THEY ARE OBLIGED, NOT ONLY BY CONVENTION BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE IR EMPLOYMENT, TO DRESS LESS CASUALLY. THEY ARE THOSE WHO PAY RATES AND PERSONAL INCOME TAX WITHOUT ANY MEANS OF SHIFTING ANY PART OF THAT BURDEN.

+THEY ARE BEING SQUEEZED BETWEEN THE POOR AND THE RICH AND, IN REAL TERMS, MANY OF THEM MAY NOT BE ANY BETTER OFF THAN THOSE WHO NOW ENJOY SOCIAL BENEFITS AND PUBLIC HOUSING, OR THE WELL-PAID CASUAL WORKERS WHO PAY NO TAX, HE SAID,

WHILE HE WELCOMED THE MODEST RELIEF IN TAXATION PROPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HE HOPED THAT WHEN OUR PLANS CAN BE REVIEWED IN MORE FAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF THIS GROUP OF +SILENT AND LOYAL+ PEOPLE.

ON THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S PROPOSAL FOR INCREASED CHARGES ON FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT REGISTRATIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES, MR. LOBO SAID HE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHY PRIVATE BUSES OR COACHES, WHICH OCCUPY MUCH ROAD SPACE AND STOP ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, HAVE BEEN SPARED,

ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT HAVE STRONG VIEWS ON THE MATTER, HE WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR THE ANOMALY.