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Story: Medicines and remedies

Cartoon about free medicine, 1948

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Cartoon about free medicine, 1948

This is cartoonist Gordon Minhinnick's humorous commentary on the changes brought about by the introduction of free medical care and medicines in 1941. The old shaving cabinet has been transformed into an almost floor-to-ceiling cupboard full of different medicines and remedies.

Cartoon courtesy of the New Zealand Herald

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-311-1-025

by Gordon Edward George Minhinnick

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Pauline Norris and Rosemary Beresford, Medicines and remedies – Prescription medicines, 1940s to 1990s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/28228/cartoon-about-free-medicine-1948 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Pauline Norris and Rosemary Beresford, published 22 March 2011, updated 1 April 2020.