DOCTOR FOR SHANNON.

Shannon News, 23 November 1928, Page 3

DOCTOR FOR SHANNON.

medical association to EE formed.

The meeting convened by the Mayor (Ut E Butt) to discuss the proposal to secure the services of a resident doctor in Shannon was held »>. the Council Chambers on Tuesday 0Y when a representative gathering of citizens were present. As the Majoi _ not yet quite well enougfih to take the chair, Mr A. E. Hyde presided. Mr Hyde explained that the m.ing tv as called with toe idea ot finding ways and means of securing the sex S t* a resident doctor. He aaM there was no need for him to 3^ . how necessary it Was to a medica man in the town. The Borough Council had moved in the matter by advertising in the'papers of the ehiel centres" Several :'eplies had oeeu received but it was necessary to o;ier some inducement. . The general opinion was that a population of one thousand wa»! required to secure the services of . a " doctor. “We claim,” lie said, .to have a population of 1500 by including the surrounding district.” He understood that the Hospital Board had power to Isubsidise £1 for £1 for subscriptions and also to medical associations. His idea was to form a medical association in Shannon and he had no doubt that if they could get a doctor he would make a good living. They had been under the . impression that a doctor would want at leasts £BOO p?r year, but from enquiries made they found that they could get a good man if £SOO or £6OO per year was assured. He asked for opinions and suggestions. Mr Coates, of Mangaore, then gave particulars of the Mangahao Medical Association's'scheme, which was to the effect that each employee paid into the fund 4s 3d per month, which entitled him to medical attention, medicine and hospital free. Being on a Government -job they received a subsidy from ,the Hospital Board, but he doubted if this would, be granted in the case of Shannon. To make the scheme a success here, they would need to have at lefts! •three hundred members. They could embrace the flaxmills and businesses where a number of men were employed. Before this could be done an ggreenient would have to be come to between the employers and eihployees to get the men to agree to contribute and for the employers to agree to stop the payments out of the men's wages. The chairman said th? only possible way to make the scheme would be to organise all big employers. It had got •' to be all pf nothing or tlve scheme Wiild be contributor that would make it. a suc-

Mr Downes said he felt sure tin? 'ihill workers'would come in. It would have to be made compulsory. There -would have to be- an agreement with tlie employers that'each man would be employed on that understanding. The Chairman pointed out that the fact of having a resident doctor here would save the Hospital Board a. lot. of money . In the case of infectious disease, a medical man on the spot would ho doubt save it from spreading. At present local cases were treated at the hospital which could be treated at their homes if there was a resident doe-' tor. So it was up to the Board to subsidise such a movement. Mr Bovis said it had been suggested that a 'canvass be made for contributions of £1 towards a guarantee up to £6OO. Mr J. Curran thought they should try and get a guarantee foT the first ' year. If the doctor was a good man he'did'not think any guarantee would be .required after the first year. Mr Cronquest said that in the past the people had not been loyal to the doctor and he thought this disloyalty was the cause of Shannon not being able to get a doctor. , ■;Mr Blackwood said the people who were disloyal had got ways and means of getting outside medical attention. They had-to consider those people who had not got these facilities. Mr White (Mangaore) pointed out that a shifting population made no difference to a medical association scheme, as every man paid while he was working. This had got to be made compulsory to make the scheme a success. Mr Downes said the main point was whether the mills would come in. He suggested calling meetings of employers and employees at Miranui and Whitanui and placing the proposal before, them. . Mr Cronquest moved that Mr Bovis seconded, “That, a. committee be set up to interview the employers and ein 1 . ployees of the flaxmills and businesses and to place before them tjhe proposal . to form a medical association.'' As the matter is an urgent) one> ‘Mr, Bovis suggested that they discuss gettifig a guarantee for the. first year, but ; in- the ineftntime arrangements -be made to form g'.iTiiQdieal a&soeiatiop. Mr Thwaites movedi?an amendment,“That a canvass be made of the bor-. ' ougli and district to get , a guarantee of £3OO a«d that the Hospital Board be asked to subsidise that, amount.” He said he was satisfied the, guarantors would not. be called oii. . They should get a good man for £6OO. Mr Gunning seconded- the amend- ■ ment. Mr F. Taylor said the guarantee was all right from' the point of vi'iw 'of those able to. pay, but the Association ,was the 'ideal , thing froth the poor ", man's point of .view., ' , On the amendment being put to the I ■. meeting it was lost and the motion was ■ >■■■'■* - >• 1 .O 1 •>

x A long lmun^-ihe-tabie! discussion ensued as to whafeform the , pjpppaal should take. Finally it was decided to endeavour to ‘got 800 - niembe rg at 9d per vycsk- Vjiifill, wIR, to the doctor’s Services frde. This will bring in £540 per j ear which after. adnuiniftratioii* ohargesy deducted, will give the doctor approximately

£SOO per yea, - and also his private practice.' The following were appointed jo meet the' flaxmills, employers and employees: iMessrs Hyde, Downes and tJoates; Dairy 00. directors and ernMr Cronquest; business plaeesthe Mayor and Messrs Taylor and Hudson. • The next meeting will ho held as soon as information is-available trorn those who are 1o be interviewed.