, 1891-04-25
P R 0 G E E D | N G S
OF TEE
COLONIAL COUNCIL
FOR ST. CROIx.
Continued from AUis No. S2.)
Continued from AUis No. S2.)

1t 1922 1900
Excellency misunderstood the intent of the
motion. We certainly know that medical men
are needed we do not mean to refuse having
those who are here employed again; but we
do not want to be bound fora years more, for
thereby we would prevent ourselves from MAX
ing arrangements for other physicians, who
are needed furthermore we think. that when
now we are about to renew contracts with the
old physicians, we must see what is required
by our duty to taxpayers we have got to re-
duce the expenses because taxpayers can't pay
them and it is an easy thing to reduce here in
this item, because we do not require the work
which was formerly done by the physicians
Now as regards the contracts with Estates, the
facts are these. that the owners collect certain
sums from the labourers the Doctors would
not agree to take what was collected as
payment for their attendance they get
about 900 or so yearly; and for this
payment they have to attend all on the
estates labourers and poor, right square
through. But when they are 80 paid, then
certainly they should not have $500 besides
from the Public for doing a portion of the
work paid by the Estates. This is what we
want to get out of the way now.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country Dis
trict (HewiH) would beg to point out, that
when the Labour Regulations were abolished
III lOGS, ILL ~ al hISOAAVhCo AACNSAO
concerning medical attendance to labourers
in case of sickness, it was of course clear,
that as planter and labourer wanted to be
free, and mo proper understanding could be
arrived at as regards medical attendance
under the new contracts of service, the duty
devolved upon the Public to provide in
that respect for the labourer, as he was
unable to do 80 for himself, and the Doctors
were sent out at heavy costs for the Treasury, as
the Estates could not be forced under the Law
to pay and We have seen at times as much as
S35 charged at one time. When the Estates
did agree to pay, then it was not untre-
quently the case, that the labourer left as
soon as he was better. Under such circum-
stances the Council was called on and the
Council did agree to allow a certain sum to
meet the payments for those whose mainte-
nance devolved on the Poor Department
those $500 were granted to pay for medical
attendance to pensioners and the balance
travelling expenses etc, how they were
really used, the Council knew not. This
amount went then to increase the salaries to
the physicians employed for 4 years. When
now in the course of time Estates have en-
gagged to supply medical assistance, and this
is given to all alike, surely the amount grant
ed under a different suppositlon must fall
away; the arrangement which His Excellency
saws came IN IOrCo OuAy III ACOo-O1, 10 HOC
required any longer, and this withdrawal
should not meet opposition. In connection
with that we propose to renew only for
year, SO hat we may have free hands to arrive
at some other arrangement and divide the
amounts 80 that we might possibly get more
physicians for the same money. This matter
seems quite clear. The Government will be
placed in no unpleasant position by the
action of the Council.
lst Member for Christiansted's Country Dis
trict (Neumanm) said it must be remembered
there are two contracts, viz the ordinary
one for the towns, based on the Ordinances !;
the other with the Government to attend to
the Poor in the Country. The first contract
is for 4 years at a time, the other one to last
until abolished. The contract under discus
sion is that about the 4 years, and it has in
reality nothing to do with attendance to Poor
in the Country. AS regards the remarks from
the honorable End Member for Frederlksteds
Country District (Blackwood), it is certainly
SO. that he for one would not accept payment
from the collections made from labourer's
weekly wages, although at the rate OF 8 or Q
cents a week per labourer, the total would
amount to more than what the Doctors are
paid now. But, then, it is clear enough from
this. who the Doctors are to attend, namely
those from whom the Estates collect a portion
of the wages as contribution to doctors pay
,bosos mho receive no paw. or small pay, are