26 NOVEMBER 1948, Page 5

It is not, I fancy, generally known, and it is

likely to cause some surprise, that any alien visiting this country can obtain free treatment —including the supply of dentures or spectacles—under the National Health Insurance scheme. This is philanthropy pure and simple, since an alien on a visit pays none of the taxes out of which the British citizen finances the Health Service. But perhaps it is a laudable device to stimulate the tourist traffic. Continental railways will soon be running denture specials to Calais. jANUS.