, 1894-03-17

3rd Member for Fredelikste DIS Country
District 1Iewittl; 1t is generally admitted
that the present number of doctoIs is insult
ficient, when we had so many cases of influenza
here, W. had q chance of seeing how made
quate the doctors are to the requirements
which was painfully noticed when one Of
them fell sick in that period. But as things
are now, the Committee, if it continues in
action, has to submit an opinion as to where
it would seem best to have Il new physician
located, but after all it is Government who
will decide, and that can be lone just as
we'll now; whether some Of the items now
used for public physicians can be spent for
getting a third physician, belongs also to
Government. In point of fact, he could not
really see what's left for the Committee to
report upon now. The question open now is
what is to be done 70 relieve the want and
there IDEAS have been exchanged already,
we want to hear what Government will
advise or do; private initiative is here,
like SO many other instances ~fruitless and
pOwerless of itself.
The (Gogsrnor) If it be mere advioes re-
quired, then Government is willing and req
dy to give such and put all its connections to
the disposal of the council.
Bird Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (Hepttt would say, that on the
Money Bill for the Poor Department there is
again an amount of $500 for paying medical
all to poor persons in the country the
amount has never been used, and although
rejected by the Council, it remains there still
and it is said to be for paying doctors, when
the Police de and their attendance to poor
in the country. IF Government concurs in
the view of the necessity of having a new
physician. that amount is at all events at
disposal it is not bound to the one district
more than to the other, and it oan be used
even if we have to alter the wording Of the
grant. his then at least could be done by
Government in the matter.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (BlGckWood) would like to have
defined what are the duties of the Committee
appointed some time ago in connection with
this matter. If it be merely the question of
the place where the new Doctor should be
placed, why, whenever the Committee comes
together again, it will just be the same thing
over again, that the one Member will hold
out for Kingshill, another for Christiansted
and a third for West End. What we want
is a new doctor to get him to come, we
must offer him a guarante e of some money
and here h6 (Blackwood) could not but
argue that we have those 800 under the
Poor Department to fall back upon for the
rest a doctor will live here, even if he don't
make a fortune here right away. He was
sorry if the fact of the Committee having
omitted to do its work, should be a draw
back now to this matter.
The Governor said it Yves easy enough to
mention those $500 that are entered under
the Poor Department, but that amount is a cal
oulatorX sum as payment to physicians in
cases where the Administration finds it ne
csssary to attend such poor persons in the
country as would not otherwise have medi-
cal attendance, now if we take it for granted
that the new physician is to be in Christian
sted, there would occur cases of poor per-
sons requiring aid in the jurisdiction of
Frederiksted or in the East End, how are the
doctors to be paid for this attendance when
the whole $400 arc FUSED as salary to the
physician in Ohristiansted The Govern
msnt must have those $500 at disposal for the
actual purpose intended.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (HsWit) said he believed the amount
was originally intended for and used 80 that
5000 p. a. went to each physician for atten-
dance to the poor in the country after it was
proved that the estates contracts secured
medical attendance to the poor on estates,
and that the labourers contribute 8 cents
weekly for paying doctor, the amount was
entered as q sum.to cover demands for atten-
dance outside of such cases when tae Police
Ordarad If bnt the ORIGINAL pilrDOSa ia for