Manawatu Herald. THUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1900. State Doctors.

Manawatu Herald, 13 September 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1900. State Doctors.

Thoroughness has not yet been reached by our paternal Government, who are not sparing in the assertion that they have gained power by the people and have only the one object, that of the advancement of the people. The health of a nation is its priceless blessing, and nothing should be permitted to interfere with the attainment of such an object. By their action in what may be termed side issues the Government tacitly admit their liability for the good health of the people, but in the important point of securing them medical assistance they fall short. The legislation that has been provided for stock is in marked contrast to the want of legislation for the human being. Inspectors roam around, the country inspecting cattle to see if they show signs of tuberculosus, and the cattle are separated if any doubt as to their health exists. Cows from which milk is drawn for sale are also liable for inspection, but if a human being shows signs of sickness it is left for him to get better the best way he can. The treatment appears startling after precautions have been taken to secure his food supply being correct to care little as to how the consumer may be. Places where meat is slaughtered is to come

under closer supervision, owners of swine are bound to give notice if they do not look quite up to the mark ; bakers are not permitted to add certain ingredients to the dough to add whiteness to its appearance, so that it is clear there exists an idea with parliament that for the people of the country to enjoy good health is a wise thing. Again our sanitary laws have all been framed for the same good purpose, but the first essential, that of the health of the people is left to their own proceedure and to private enterprise. We know here, as well as Bettlers scattered away in the back-blocks, that medical mon are only human and have just as much interest in the acquisition of wealth as the most ordinary person amongst us, and the result is found that the valuation b?y place upon their pervices, especi•ilhr Tybcn pqil^ upon to travel p. .iistance from their residencies, is far greater than the sufferer values them at, or if that is too much to say, greater than the man's earnings enables him to pay. We desire to find no fault with the doctors, it is entirely a matter of arrangement, at present, between the sick man and his doctor, he can call him in, or he can die! our Government fancies that under the circumstances the patient will probably call the doctor in. though he may ruin his fami y by so doing. Many however prefer of the two evils, to die. Many of us know of cases where a life has been lost as the head of the family has delayed calling in medical advice, until too late, simply owing to the exorbitant fees demanded.

We could enlarge on this subject and quote other anomalies in legislation, all going to prove that theoretically the Government admit the worth of the health of the people, and yet, from the difficulties there undoubtedly are in the way, refrain from instituting a reasonable medical advice. In the early days of this colony medical officers were aprointed and paid by the Government to attend the Natives, which thus leads us to a groundwork upon which a State Medical Department might be founded. There is a very practical way of giving effect to such a proposal, and the establishment of such a system is merely the enlargement of the idea by which the State now subsidises hospitals and sanatorium^. The State having encouraged a large number of persons to insure their lives, it is evident it would be distinctly profitable to them to keep them alive as long as possible. Doctors are frequently employed by the Government as travelling medical referees for the Insurance Department, and thus it is clear that doctors have no objection to work for the State. In one way or another everyone subscribes something to the general good of the greater number, every employer has to be answerable for all accidents to his employees and insures against his liability ; everyone, indirectly, pays to finding money for the pensioners from old age, as the sums are voted from the surpluses of the year which are nothing more than so nuch more taxation raised than was necessary. Duty has lately been taken off some of the necessaries of life, or greatly reduoed, and therefore there is an opening for a direct taxation on some article of general use, which could be devoted towards the ways and means of affording those so seriously handicapped at present, with medical advice and assistance at reasonable rates. The Premier is great at attacking monopolies, but the greatest monopoly in the colony is that of the medical fraternity, which could be easily proved by the enormous fees demanded for attendance by doctors in any but the larger cities. Whilst we have always held that a man should be permitted to earn what ere he can, our protest against the present extravagant charges is not made in any spirit of objection to those who make them ; it is entirely their own business and if they find fewer patients at large fees pay better than more patients at lesser fees, then they can carry out their own plan, though we might remark that it was shown by the English papers quite lately that a doctor in London who found he could not make a living at charges of two shillings and sixpence for advice and medicine, was making money handsomely when he reduced the fee to one shilling. We have not the population here to try any such experiment, but we firmly believe a lower charge would tend to increase the income of a doctor, otherwise it proves that there are not a sufficiency of doctors for the scattered population. All this points to the justice of our claim for the Government to take the important matter of the health of the inhabitants of the colony under their more immediate protection.