A Resident Doctor.

Manawatu Herald, 20 November 1900, Page 2

A Resident Doctor.

Thb Mayor has called a meeting for next Friday to consider what steps should be taken to secure a resident medical man. This is a step that should have been taken a year or two ago, but is better late than never. The past arrangements have been unsatisfactory to all parties concerned and had the appearance of being slightly selfish, there being very many who required the services of a doctor, at a reasonable fee, besides those who were young enough and healthy enough to join a Friendly Society. We trust the meeting will recognise that a minimum subscription will have to be provided for a doctor, whether the subscribers actually require his services or not, as otherwise no success will attend their efforts. Doctors and business men require their pound of flesh as well as any other man, and no one will be found walking into however nicely set trap, upon the promises of the great expectations held out by the committee. We must face the fact that we must pay for what we want, and we must guage our payments by the measure of the need that exists. A resident doctor, sober, and qualified, is a need, and to obtain Ruch a one a sum, totally apart from his fees, will have to be guaranteed to him, and he should on his part give in a list of his proposed fees, not only to those who subscribe, but for all his patients. We cannot think there will be any difficulty in securing a medical man on some such terms, and we trust to see a thoroughly representative meeting.