Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY. DEC. 20, 1898. State Doctors.

Manawatu Herald, 20 December 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY. DEC. 20, 1898. State Doctors.

Ws are running State supported and | controlled institutions in this colony for so many purposes that the idea of the State providing medical atten t.Jon, either frep, or at a low charge. by du'y qualified salaried profrs -ional men, will not appear such a j .wonderful step in advance. Our schools are State institutions, the I Government runs a Life Insurance : D^partTji ut, our children are vaccinated free, and therefore why ahou'd ih j y not hav<* medical advice at the hands of the State ? The Premier has in his mind the pro viding of a Bureau to give th? iettlera free, or at anyrate cheap, legal advice, so that in whatever way the proposal of public doctors may be viewed it only goeß to show -bat th*» idea is nothing out of tbe way. The question may be put an to the ground* justifying such a step, *nd we will suppose there is such a question and show how necessary <wch an institution is. Tbe health of th<> public is acknowledged to be of moment both to the State a» much as it is to individual?, as th* healthy settlor is one that contributes o the wealth of the State, wbereap the unhealthy one has not only to be cared for by the State, but owing to his unhealthiness he is a menace to all those who are healthy. Our children are vaccinated freely to avoid the scourge of small-p^x, which illustrates how far the pro oo"al of general protection has ye f been carried. We are progressing quickly in the direction we point to. as the Government appoint Inspectors to see to tbe health of tbe inimals used for food and also for he supply of milk, they have also, oy law, empowered looal bodies to take strong aotion to inoist upon suppliers of meat and drink tha every care and cleanliness shall b ibserved in securing such befon being nff-wd for sale.

The difficulty of getting medio-i 1 •ttention is apparent to every person ..who resides in the country. In this "'own we thoroughly understand th> position, an the district being, as a j'hole. remarkably healthy, the per ons who are ill have a difficult, a' inies impossible, and always ex* connive task to secure competen id vice. Just as we are situated so ire thousands of other settlers, and herefore there have arisen Friendly Societies, being leagues of person - who regularly pay, well or ill, a pertain yearly Bum for medical aid In miny canes, a* it is here, ?h inducement thus offered is net suffi"i°nt; to R»cnre the residence of a doctor in the town. Everybody pays, ndireotly, to the Hospitals, but it is only those who live in their prox imi-y that receive the fullest benefit r rom them, though of course they ire institution!? of great value and •vould always have to be maintained. It appears to us that if the colony was fairly divided out aod a competent medical practitioner placed so 'hat he would have jti«t a fair radius o work, the value of that p^st should ho estimated, and a salary fixed. The. d'ictor should for his payment have to perform certain duties free/

t mi' to be kept to a sen -duUd rat. f-»r further services. Tbe huioud f these Hularips should be paid on if th u O'>n«o'idtited Revenue, anH <ay, be, found by a small addition* na duty, as that is the article tin •tch and poor, sober and the h>ml driuk^r, all consume some of. Ou own friends uiny not understand >h> torce of this suggestion, but in ihn country it in one that will be much -tppi'feciated, and a-< we do not sugg"> xcluding the town inhabitant* from h* scheme, they will be d »übly blessed, as they will have the choice of either a State doctor or private doctor. The settlement of the country will be greatly aided when this most important drawback is removed from the consideration of the family man. We hope this sug gestion will receive favourable consideration and that the question may be discussed from all possible view?, as publicity is needed to gain the accomplishment of the object.

• Master Frank Ray has been appointed letter-carrier at Dannevirke.

The Racing Club is making arrangements with the Railway to run a special train from Woodville on Race days.

Mr Langley has secured the catering for the Frieedly Societies picnic on New Year's day.

Mr G. L. R. Scott and family are now residing at the Sanatorium, having rented Mr Alf. Fraser's cottage.

The Racing Club have decided to pay the Railway the cost demanded for gates on to the Course in continuation of Park street.

We have much pleasure in drawing attention to the tasteful manner the window in Mr Rhodes store is dressed for the Christmas season.

The proprietors of the Red House in their changed advertisement state they are showing a first class stock of crockery and glassware for the Christmas trade, also toys and fancy goods. They have also the new season's fruits just to hand.

To-morrow the polling for the election of a councillor will take place at the Library buildings.

The installation of the Mayor should take place at noon to-morrow, the question however appears to be — where ?

The train arrangements are published elsewhere, for Christmas. On Boxing day the train leaves Foxton at 7.45 a.m. running to Fielding. On Tuesday the train usually leaving Palmerston at 5.5 p.m. will be delayed till 6 p.m.

Tenders must be sent in to-day for various services required by the Borough, the council meeting being held to-morrow evening.

It appears probable that the newlyelected councillor, whoever he may be can be elected, sworn in, and take his seat at the Council table all in one day.

A prisoner named James Jackson escaped from the Terrace gaol Wellington on Saturday afternoon by climbing over a fence.

To commemorate the " peace and goodwill" season Mr Park, stationer of Palmerston. has issued a writ for £500 for slander against Mr Welch also a stationer of that town.

Lord Curzon of Kedlestone, the new Governor-General of India, has started tor the East.

Overtime work at the arsenal at Sheerness, which since the war rumours began has been in force, has ceased. The first watches of the crews of the Channel squadron have received 10 days' leave.

A proclamation publishes in last week's Gazette alters the name of the township of Birmingham, Kiwitea County, to Kimbolton.

President McKinley, in addressing an audience numbering 10,000 at Atlanta, lauded the patriotism of the South. The nation, he said, was for evermore indivisible. The flag had been placed in two hemispheres — symbolic of law, liberty, peace and progress.

The new battleship Irresistible has been launched from the naval dockyards at Chatham.

Fifty thousand rounds of LeeMetford ammunition have been stolen from the Hounslow military authorities. There is no clue to who the robbers were.

Miss Sisley left Foxton yesterday by teave of the Chairmrn of the School Committee. We wish this lady every success with her new school and much regret her loss to our teaching staff.

On Saturday Carmo, conjuror and illusionist appears at the Public Hall. He brings many novelties, among which is the latest craze in England and the continent, entitled " Troublewit." No doubt he will be well received.

Judgment was given by Mr Justice Edwards on Friday morning in the Palmerston North appeal case of Mowlem and Co. v. Engels, litigation arising out of a dispute as to commission. The appellants contended that upon the facts found by the Magistrate they were entitled to judgment for the full amount of commission which would have been payable to them if they had actually effected a sale ot the property in question. His Honour, however, thought that the facts did not bring the transaction within the principle laid down by decided cases. It was plain that the appellants did not find the purchaser, who was in negotiation with the respondent before he authorised the appellants to sell the property, and who, again, before any communication passed between him and the appellants- intimated to the respondent that he desired to purchase the property. It was also plain that the purchaser did not obtain irom the appellants any information as to the property which induced him to buy. In His Honour's opinion the appellants were not entitled to claim commission upon the sale. The appeal was dismissed, with costs £7 7s.—' 1 Post."