Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1908.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxix, Issue 7542, 18 July 1908, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1908.

Nationalisation of Medical Skill.

The nationalisation of medicine, surgery, dentistry, and everything which bears on the health, social

and industrial efficiency of the people— and therefore on a country's national efficiency—has long been considered by many thinkers to be within tha sphere of t ical politics. Indeed, provision stalments of the ideal have long existed in hospitals in every civilised country, and within the last quarter of a century almost every Government has provided for the medical examination and dental treatment of children in attendance at the public schools. Apart from these and similar advances, medical men themselves ha /o always in practice-been more or lesa socialistic with their services, on grounds of humanity; but few, if any, countries have yet completely nationalised medicine, 'surgery and dentistry, as a national policy, in the interesc of humanity and of the industrial effectiveness and national efficiency of the people. This' has been tentatively talked about and written about now and then and here and there throughout the world, but so far as we 'know it has never been made a distinct plank in national politics; though, about twelve years ago, ;it was extensively discussed in the Parliament of New "South Wales. What would perhaps Wore than anything else help the movement would be the sympathy and advocacy of medical men thsmselves, and if a plebeseite were taken, these perhaps would be found to be neither indifferent nor unsympathetic in the matter. In fact, at least one New Zealand physician—Dr. Deck, of Waihi, Auckland - has spoken publicly on the subject. In a lecture lately delivered by him, Dr. Deck strongly advocated the establishment" of a State medical service, which should be on a footing analagous to that of the post office and the public railways. Ho said that if this were done, it would enable every man, woman and child to obtain direct the services of a specialist in every branch of medical science. From tho incomplete report before us it cannot be gathered whether Dr. Deck would have medical men paid direct by the State, with the State charging the patients as it now charges for letters and railway passengers ; but the text soems to imply some such arrangement as this, for in the same lecture he advocated that all hospitals should bo made free to all persons with ailments that deserved or needed hospital treatment find care. This, however, is a detail, though admittedly an important detail; but at presenb the point that is specially worthy of notice is that a member of the profession publicly advocates what! is tantamount to the nationalisation of the medical skill of the country. If doctors generally could be induced to vote on the subject, the result would assuredly be interesting, and it would probably also be —if only by way of suggestion—of practical assistance to humanists and statesmen in the dominion and beyond it; for, on grounds of humanity as well as for reasons of national efficiency, the nationalisation of medical skill is a subiect of practical interest throughout the world.

A Parable for Capital and Labour,

The strife that is now going on throughout the world becweon Capital and Labour is fraught with distress and disaster; yet were

they to become reconciled, ar.d to bo mutually drawn into a co-operative partnership, they might, between them, make the world a wonderfully happy and pleasant place. Probably, however, it is more by moral regeneration than by material means that they must seek this: very likely both factors are necessary, but it is absolutely certain that the first should dominate the second. Almost everywhere' material agencies are being called on as aids to a solution, which, however, is still in the far distance, if, indeed, it does not recede for ever, like tho horizon. It does not now natter very much who begjin the strife; but the strife as now carried on is not only foolish and selfish, but crue', malignant, inhuman and-unchristian in-well-nigh equal degrees. The evil spirit of a short-sighted commercialism has possession of both parties; one of whom is, through sheer selfishness, unreasoning^ unyielding, and the other fiercely aggressive, from the same motive. Neither trade' unions, nor acts of Parliament, nor arbitration _ courts can effectively mend this direful state of things; and, as we have : said, it is only through the moral regeneration of all concerned that the world can roach an adequate remedy. In uno of the beautiful prose stories of the fine Irish poet, George Russell (whose penname is "A. E."), there is a'parable that meets the case. "A king" (says the wise and gifted "writer) —"a king sat enthroned in his hall. A captive was bound before him—bound, ' Imt proud, defiant, unconquerable of soul. There was silence in the hall until the king spoke the doom and torture for his ancient enemy. "'I had Thought' (said the king) ' to do some fierce thing to thee and so end thy days, my enemy. But I remember now, with sorrow, the great wrongs we have done to each other, and the hearts made sore by our hatred. I shall do no more wrong to thee; thou art free to depart. Do what you wilt. I will make restitution to thee as far as may be for thy ruined state.' Then the soul which no might could conquer was conquered utterly— the knees of the captive wora bowed, and his pride was overcome. 'My brother,' lie said, and could say no more." After all, tho truest wisdom dwells with the poet, when he is not only a singer but a seer; but the trouble of the world is not only that few read the poet's words, but that still fewer Have hearts ready to receive his- wisdom. Still this parable of " A. E.s" so aptly fits the present state of things, that we must hope it ina.y not fall on entirely deaf ears, or.entirely fail in its appeal to the better and only true conscience of the reader. :