The Feilding Star. Published Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1898. Professional Fees

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 23, 27 July 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Published Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1898. Professional Fees

Out of a certain feeling of compunction or perhaps charity we did not intend to say anything about the very remarkable proposal of Mr Carncross, M.H.R., to the effect that the charges of medical men should be regulated by Act of Parliament, but since the worthy M.O.R. allowed that very remarkable suggestion to escape him, other people, equally brilliant, hare followed up the idea. It has been contended that if the charges of medical men are to bo made statutory, why not include those of lawyers? And, if medicos and gentlemen of the long-robe, why not plumbers, carpenters, milksellers, tinkers, tailors, candlestick-makers, and orerybody else who tries to earn an honest living — out of Parliament. Surely Mr Carncross is an ardent follower of the creed that " all men are equal." He apparently believes that a medical student who has just received his diploma is as good a surgeon as Sir Benjamin Brodie, or that a young lawyer who got his but a few days ago, is as able a pleader as Sir Charles Russell, or that a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, the day after his election, is the equal of Mr Gladstone. The value of an article is what it can be •old for in the open market. The value of the services of a medical man or solicitor is gauged by the persons who employ them according to their reputation for skill and ability, and we all know that no professional man ever earned fame unless by hard work and talent. In proportion to the market value of their services so are their charges, and very properly so. There are cases on record where men have assessed their own value. For instance the value of the services of the members of the House is L 240 per annum— paid monthly— and this valuation must of necessity be correct because the members have made it themselves. On the other hand it is the public who directly employ professional men, tradesmen, and artisans, who place a value on their services according to their several merits. The people who pay, whether by fees or wages, are far better judges than mere politicians can be. Either lawyers or medical men have a perfect right to cbargo according to the demaud there is for their •erviees, and if a client of the Carncross breed cannot afford to pay for " skilled labor V he should go to a market where he can get the inferior article. _ __^_____