TOO MANY DOCTORS
Difficulties of Making
Ends Meet
By The Scottish Branch Secretary of the Medical
Practitioners' Union
THE announcement that the British
the Medien Asanctallon gave question of allowing alien doctors to
in this country set up practice prominent place in the proceedings bi its annual meeting, and that! Une Medical Practitioners' Union is prepared to organize a strike of the profession if the Government per- sists in its proposals to admit re- fugee Austrian medical men coming here for that purpose, has created u great deal of public curiosity as to what is behind the exeltement which has been stirred up in the medical camp,
The man l the street cannot u11- few idea of a derstand why the Continental doctors trying to make a living for themselves in "The Re- have should Refugees' Paradise"
got the medical men of this coun- try on the raw, and be rousing them to contemplate measures of so dras- tie a kind.
1
Let it be stated clearly and van- phatically that neither race, nation- into the ality, nor religion comes matter at all. The profession has no quarrel with its Continental col- leagues who have been, and are be- ing, hounded out of their own land. On the contrary, it has the deepest sympathy with them. The position taken up by the doctors of Great Britain is one that is forced upon them purely by economic conditions, the existing ever-crowded state of and the difficulty the profession, which medical men in this country are finding in making their budgets balance.
Wrong Ideas
doctor
The public has always had very inflated ideas regarding the financial prosperity of its medical advisers, Because, in the old days, n went his rounds in a carriage-and- pair, or, keeping up with the times, ow drives his own car, it is and always has been taken for granted that he is well blessed with worldly means. Hints to the effect that he Is not so well off as people imagine are received with a smile and an envious "I'd give a good bit for a page of your bank-book!"
If the attitude of the medical pro fession towards the Austrian. Inva
a few sion is to be understood, cherished misconceptions about doc- tors bank balances will have to to by the board.
two decades of
During the Bret the present century the number of additional names on the Medical Re-
cach at the end of ¡gister averaged about 400, not mean
that
your does This
had only 400 men
the preceding gratuated during twelve months, In course of the year many of the older practitioners had died. The vacancies on the re- ister created by these deaths had to be filled by names of new gradu- ates, in order to bring the numbers on the register up to those at the end of the previous year, before any of the additional 400 names began. to be counted.
1
The 400 average does not merely mean thot at the end of each year there were 400 new names on the register, but that there were now on it 400 names over and above the number at the dute of the previous count.
Dwindling Practice
Throughout the next decade the yearly addition averaged 1000 names more than were the register on the previous December 31. Though, 1ately, the numbers are down, they are still more than double the pre- War figure.
But, while the number of doctors has increased since the War, the opportunities of work for each, both old and new, have steadily been be coming less and less.
When State Insurance came Into though force panel practitioners, they might be receiving only seven ahlilings a year for attention to the of the house, were insured head
shillings, drawing a further, seven or twenty-one shilings, and often mere, for attending to the medical
of that Insured per requirements son's wife and the junior members of his family..
THE
HONGKONG
Erich
TELEGRAPH, MONDAY,
AUGUST
29,
1938.
Maria Remarque's
THREE COMRADES
Copiight 1938 by Loem's Ing,
Chapter Ono
sho proffered her name of Patricia Hollmann, and explained her half- English, salt-German origin.
They were all sitting at the little garden table by then, the party cluding Breuer, who, with liquor, had grown more affable.
Erich glanced at the others as the car aped down the highway. There was a similarity in the faces of
"We're war bables then," Pat Konter and Lenz ihat he had never aald, turning to Erich. She smiled noticed before, Ho groped for the word. Pride, that was it. The pride erty. "We're neither living nor of men who fiercely ballovo in
Kosler cut lo. "Don't pay thai. penco and the future of a civilized | You and Erich → you're both liv world.
Wonderingly, he stroked his owning, You're young. Itamember that."
chin and wondered if he too, had that look. Back there in the city there was fighting, the 1920 brand, different from the kind he and his two comrades had known in 1017. Then, it had been wae-cold, cruel, well-defined. One nation against the ather. And now?:
dend."
Breuer was complacently cracking nuta, and digging at them with A sharp plek, rather as if he were cleaning his fingernails. "You fel lows ought to join our organization. Maka men out of you." Marching schat together?"
Lenz rong furiously. "Marching what together?"
Lenz had mummed it up junt a
The new Germany," Breuer re- while before with quiet, bitler acorn turned calmly. "Order. Discipline, nn he had watched the rioting out: The common people should bread and aide. Hoodlume-tle kids and work and fight for the Fatherland. big kids throwing rocks and burn- That's their duty. Treat them well, ing wads of cotton. Baving Ger mind you. They mustn't starve. many, Baving us from men like Dr. Keep them marching." He began Backer and what they stand for - to boat on the table with the nut peace, renson, freedom."
Koster tind spoken to him aharp-pick. "Brrump, bump, bump, bump.
Lenz whrilled, "Stop ! Stop it!" ly. "Bo quiet. This isn't our fight, rrump, bump, bump, bung We did our work in the war. Now
Breuse looked at him with quiet we're running an auto repair shop.arrogance. "Oh sit down. You shell- not a country. Come on, let's drive shocked fellows give me a pain with out to that rondaido inn. It's Erich's birthday." Biolidly, he had your hyalerics" picked up the six bottles of rum and led the way to the dear.
Watching the whizzing; landscape, Erich thought back to that day when horullies had ernaed. Funny, every bottle had always seemed to be the last when the shrapnel was flying. Then, with the armistice there and seemed to be a millon ahead. He had never had any fun in his life. It had been from kinder- garten to front linea. He had made n reckless boast that he would split champagno from Hamburg to Munich and fall in love with every girl he met. Ha was going to live.
"You fellows ought to join our organization. Make men out of you."
That was 'cace.
Only now, the auto repair shop's tlay profits' didn't allow for much champagne and the girls never seemed an attractive, closo 10.
There was a horn tooting impa- tiently bohind them. Trich gianeed around and aaw an expensive acdan, Its driver surveying them with can- tempt. Erich grinned. "Ho wants to piny with us, Koster." The latter nodded and pressed on the acceler ator of "Baby". Immediately, the seemingly rattletrap car, whose father had been an airplane, leaped forward. Erich caught a bewildered look of natonishment from the other driver and a few moments later as "Unby" stopped at the inn. Lena observed, "I thought I heard a noise un the rond. Isn't it beautiful and quiet here?"
They were removing the bottles of rum from the back seat when the other car drew up. From 1 stepped a man of about forty. He had an aristocratic front but the venter was thin, the butcherboy Just below the surface. Squinting angrily through his monocle, he sold, as if he were announcing a title, "I am Herr Franz Birouer. What kind of junk is that?"
Amused. Erleh latened as the boya gravaly explained "Baby" lineage. But suddenly he tensed. From the other door of the car a girl wan emerging. Erich looked at her dlazily. She was lovely and young and there was a kind of puck- ish smile upon ber lips. She moved And light and music moved with her.
Alowly, Erich approached her, "It's a beautiful night," he said Awkwardly and was conscious of pants for ho could think of nothing elen to say.
Her head inclined, a Spring daf- fod!! gently nodding. Unusually milt for March,"
"Terribly mild" Her eyes were big and a sort of dusty blue.
Uwe didn't know there was anyone anyone like you in the car. Or we'd have let you win."
"But why should you?"
"It wasn't fair. We can do ninety. five. You didn't know that, nstar ally. I think your husband was an nayed."
She shrugged her square, allm shouldern, "One ought to be able lose sometimes. And," she added, hur volca ling. "Heer Breuer in't my husband, Ha's just a friend."
Covering up his exultanco, Erich found his tongue running away: with him. He told her of his youth, of his war record, of the life of the three comrades. In exchange,
declining years,
Lenz had him by the euat collar and had hauled him up when Kos ter Intervened. "Easy Lonz, From now on we drink milk on Erich's birillidnya,”
As if they were alone, Pal turned to Erich. "So It's your birthday?" low old?"
"Old enough."
"One of the nicer ages?
"Which is the ulceat?" He felt godlike. He could be anything, even the right age, for her.
"Well," her amlio was slow and ap- praining, "your age, I think. Just about your age”
The moon had elson high when they stood outside the arbor again. With the rum dulling their anl moally for the time being, Koster, Broner and Lenz had linked arms and were singing.
moonlight
Erion watched the trace a leafy pattern over Pat's four, no, Zive face. He noted freckles over her impudent nose. "Do you think Herr Breuer's able to drive?" he asked anxiously.
"I think so.”
"If you're not quite sure," he mig gestod urgently, "one of us could go with you. Gladly!!
The ringing was closer. "It's all right. He drives the same, drunk or sober." Breuer was opening the door of the car.
Erich bent down and maid in a low voice, "Can I phone you in the morning and see if you got home all right?" He hung on hor answer. The moment was like those dawns in the trenches when one waited and waited for the word that might biot out the sun forever.
"If you like," she said evenly. "Weslend two sevan nine six,”
Carefully, Erich noted the num ber on a match packet. There were good natured farewells, the Brauer's car drove away.
"I wonder," Lonz wal na ho climbed into the racing car, "what she sees in that wine. Wonderful giri, ch7"
Erich yawned elaborately. "Oh. all right. No sense in arousing competitive Interest
"All right" Lens gestured hope Inssly at Koster, "You know Erich, sometimes I think you must have had a serious head wound that you never reported." The engine roared. Erich looked off over the fields and thought, "She's such a tiny thing. Looks like she'd blow away." He clutched the cardboard with its magic numbers tightly in his hand. Tomorrow was such a long way off before he could hear her volce again. Patricin. He'd never known girl with that name. Ito'd never known a girl like her,
Koster atghed. “Must be nite be- Ing able to remember your birth- day. When yours, Lenz?"
Lenz ponderet, "March. Apell." Ile gave it up "Maybe July of August."
earned went into his own pocket.
Is it any wonder that the rank and ille of the medical profession in his country are up in arms at the iden of allen doctors being allowed to start practice here, and so dilute still
further the little that British practitioner has left to live on?
Are you aware
It has been of-
the
Adapted For
M.G.M. By BEATRICE FABER
"Really? You must DAVO tho wrong woman."
1 palms wont wel with panic. "In your car, I mean." He relaxed a little as there came an answer- ing "Ol-h-h" of recognillon. "I junt wondered if you got home all right. Did you?"
She giggled. "I'm quite sure did."
That's fine." What a mutton hend he'd bean to think she'd be Interested in him. In utter con- fusion, he said, "Well, goodbye."
"Did you call me up just to say that
He gulped, "No, we-I just wasn't very busy."
iler laugh came again. "Oh, a
÷÷÷÷÷+ compliment. Oddly enough, I won't
Chapter Two
he busy next Tuesday evening."
Erich had now gone completely to pleces. "That is odd. Well, good- bye,"
Till Tuesday evening
Till Tuesday evening." he repeat
He was going to ace her. She wanted to see him again. It was tit a miracle.
It was a beautiful morning and the plum tree, blooming in theed Automatically but as the tele- courtyard of the repair shops, noem-phono elicked, he stared at it in n ed to brighten up the whole drab daze, "What?" Then a mudden ex-
altation apread over him. world.
As Lenz unkered at a dismantled limousine, he said, reflectively, "You know Erich, something ought to be
The next morning her card came, done and that girl, Who's her name? Pat something or other politely informing bit of her ad- Mou. wrote down her addreas on adress. It reposed in Erich's pocket, mutch pacifor
crumpled and blurred as mounting the steps of a three-story mansion on Tuesday evening, he rang the bell and field his breath. A ponipous majordomo opened the door to
Erich's tone was evasive. "I throw It away. The matches were all used up."
Lenz Jusped up and nolzed him by the hair. "Threw it away? And after him, escorting him past great fad- Koster and I spent an hour latened reception rooms to the rear of ing to titat Breuer so you could move the house. In II turned away in exaspera-
Pat hergolf opened the door of
tion. Iould have known you her tiny salon and her amlle was wouldn't have the brains to appre-ko a brightly burning candle, Flut einte her. He kissed hin fingers tering ber alim fingers she laughed. ccstatically. "Her hands, long and "Oh dear, Ludwig will bring peoplo alender, ka romnino anlad. Ah to this door." She dropped into a Krich, you should travel, Germana clanir. "He loves to think I still own don't understand love. I'm really a the whole house, though now I only Latin. That's what Pat's got, the rent this little bit of it."
Erich touched the expensive soul of a South American."
Erich grinned. "If you liked South America O much, why did you come back after three months?" He did not wait for a reply however, for there was a coll from outside. A cuntamer.
Wiping oft him greasy hands, Erich latened increduously an Horr to Schultz and his wife began dicker for the limousine standing outside. His eyes lighted up. If the Hamusing were sold there would be untold riches. How splendidly he could then court Pat.
"Alfons' Bar? That's exactly the place for a girl like me."
tapestry of his chair, "I thought you told me you were poor."
"Doesn't it look as if I am?” He shrugged. Poverty was an- other one of those things that wa relative. The only soft chair in the shop had been the back soat of the limousine and now that was gone. He noticed that sho was staring 1oodily on the floor and the miser able conviction that he was boring her already, awept over him. "It' still mild lon't it?" he said tenta tively.
She looked up and laughed. "You In an aspired velce he bagan to point out the beauties of the car. don't have to make conversation Fourwhool brakes, balloon tires, with me when I stars at things. Valves just ground and a new paint I was just thinking something fool- wont past him. Job. Mr. Schultz seemed unimpress-ish." Hor gazo
ed. After nil, it was a second hand "Thinking how nloo It would be it car. What, Erich demanded, should wo could pick a time to be born. a car have, to make it attractive? 4 pick an age of reason and quiet Wings? It was cheap at seven thou- if thero ever was one." Iler oyes "What would you sand marks. Mr. Schultz shook his searched his.
pick?" head.
Erich hesitated. She had sounded Abruptly, Erich turard to the woman. The color suits you so for a moment like Lenz Lenz woll, Frau Schultz, Cobalt blue with who worked quietly against the blonde is perfect." After all, alto growing revolutionary forces, Lenz, wasn't a bad looking woman if you who fearlessly hated everything overlooked the extra poundage." "It that was the abemy of freedom and is easy to see that Frau Schultz tolerance. "Ob, I don't know," Erich has a soul. The soul of of a South sald uncertainly, "This minuto is American." Plucking & blossom good enough for me." from the plum tree he pressed it into her hand.
She clasped her hands bebind her head. “That's a lovely compliment. Or is it just something you thought of to say?"
Her eyes were so direct, as if she would pierce through to his brain. He stirred with nervousness. "What
Frau Schultz beamed and sudden. ly ber husband began to chuckie. For such shrewd busincas methods he had nothing but admiration. It WBN worth at least six thousand marks to him. He wrote out I mean is-woll, how would I check. "Doliver the car to my home tomorrow evening please. Auf Wiedersehn, Good fuck."
know I'd be apt to meet you in the age of reason?" There, he'd put his foot in it with his blunt speech,
There was a pause sa shé smiled Erich bowed them out, nearly
excitement. "Beat him, a sad smile. Then she rose. ecllapsing with careful crossing the street," he call- "Shall we go now? I've got to be ed, barely able to articulate. Then, back here by ten. It's a sort of bual- Pm trying to get a Mummoning Koster and Lenz he dis nsan affair. played the windfall. "Two thousand job."
Following her out, he felt a sud- marka aplece."
den resentment waight down his heart. A "business" appointment. Mora Ilkoly, I was. Then the ugly thought was blotted out as he stood beside her. She was so little and doileately made.
Lenz thoughts were far away. "Two thousand roarks worth of help for Germany," he murmured thinking of what this would mean to his underground group.
Koster spoke alowly. "What we should do is to buy a laxi. It's an Income in addition to the shop and a source of security for the threa of "
Brloh nodded and finally Lenz sighed, "Well, wist ure we waiting Tor?"
Clapping him on the shoulder Koster furned to Erich. "Go tell Baby to move over, Bba's going to have company."
With a cautious glance around him. Erich proceeded to the tele phone. Then, with Pat's voice ac tually coming over the wire, ho broke into an artificial laugh. "This Is that man you met the other night. Ons -- one of the ones who beat,you."
Since then, however, rate-male- But to-day private practice has neatly stated that over 50 per cent. tained clinica for infants, school shrunk to such insignificant propor- lot the doctors in this country have children, T.H. cases, mothers-to-be tions that, his panel fees are practie overdrafts at the bank, and that they may may k and mothers-that-are, &c. &c., havonlly the whole of the average general are compelled to adapt such a course
and practitioner's professional income. sprung up in all directions,
ative part of his private practice Overdrafts at the Bank
taken what were the most remuner-
out of the panel doctor's hands.
1
owing to the Impossibility otherwise of making ends moet?
Can you blame the British medi-
In the latest annual report of the cal man for objecting, in the strong- In the early days of National Insurance Committee for the burgh est possible way, to strangers being hero and set up Health Insurance a doctor was able of Glasgow, it is stated that last allowed to come
to pay his professional and domestic year the averago sum paid to each practice against them; overcrowd- practitioner In Glasgow ing still further an already: much- expenses out of his panel cheque. panel
His private practice provided him for his 12 months work was £411 overcrowded profession, and making with funds with which to meet his From that sum all his profesional it even more, dificult than it is for other outlays, to have a little bit to expenses had to be deducted before its members to-follow Meawber's spend to lay past something for his a single penny of what he had i advice?
"Where shall we dine?" Pat nak- ed. "Where would you go?"
Erich thought of Alfons rougis and ready bar and looked horrified. "Oh that's out. A terrible place, AF fors' Bar. Oh, It's absolutely out, No place for a girl like you."
"Alfons Bar? Ehe looked up at him with dancing eyes. "That's ex- actly the place för a girl like me.”
(Erich's romance appears to be progressing satisfactorily lia has at least 100% an evening tit Pat. But will her "busi- ness appointment, that evening procludo further moslinger Be sure to read tomorrow's roman- tio installment.)
COUNT THE “TELEGRAPHS
EVERYWHERE
CANADIAN PACIFIC
STEAMSHIPS HOTELS-
- RAILWAYS - EXPRESS
BERTHING PLANS FOR 1939 ARE OPEN
MAKE BOOKINGS EARLY - to recuro accommodation dosired
TO CANADA, UNITED STATES and EUROPE
via Shanghal, Kobe & Yokohama EMPRESS OF RUSSIA EMPRESS OF JAPAN via Honolulu EMPRESS OF ASIA
EMPRESS OF CANADA via Honolulu
.7.00 .m., Ft, Sept. 2. ......Noon, Fri, Sept. 10. .6.00 a.m., Fri., Sept. 30.
.Noon, Fri., Och, 14. .
Trans-Continental Trains, Canadian Paciile Allantio sailings to European" Ports,
Air-conditioned equipment on C.P.A. Frequent
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
Union
Building
TO MANILA
Fri, Sept. 9.
Canadian Pacific
Telophono
20752
BARBER-WILHELMSEN LINE
Monthly Service to
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
via LOS ANGELES & PANAMA CANAL PORTS.
also taking cargo on through Bills of Lading for West Indies ports, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Rio Grande do Sot Buenos Aires, South America.
NEXT SAILING:-
M.V. "TAI YIN"
18th September.
DODWELL & CO., LTD.
Agents.
Hongkong Bank Bldg.
Telephone 28021.
OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS
120
ACROSS
2 This agreement is closely ar-
ranged (7).
8 Heraldic fur (4). 1 Odu
place for a lady to get her hat from (0),
10 Colouring matter (3).
11 Chest... sounds as if there
cold on one (0), was a
12 Important period of time? (8).
13 Dutch old master (4).
14 A hoil from a ship (4).
·
10 Biblical king who could impose
slience, (4).
17 The sort of colonist who is po-
pular with storekeepers (7). 18 Lady known in the Morse code
(4).
21 Bird not found in the Zoo (4). 22 Yield for a Dictator (7).
24
27
Macbeth's Where It did?"
(4).
25 The weed to cut short (4),
*Sti!!
to best to be drest, as you were going to a feasi" (Ben Jonson) (4),
thals carl is 28 Docs. It
mean
beaten? (0).
29 The flag to give a fogging
writer
(U).
sound encouragement
30 This sort of rubber might wipe out a big score at the card to- ble (5).
though it quite to kill
BLYS Uke a common corpse
32 British soldier (4).` 33 He suggests, a Scandinavian
deity. (7).
DOWN)
1 No bath would upset him (8). 2. Epithet for an artful harbour
master perhaps (8).
126
3 It is not cruel to tread on this
Africah (4).
4 A scut across a boat apparent-
ly (7)
5 They Inteed are half fairies
(10).
6 An army
in the beginning of for distant lands (a beastly clue) (8).
7 Flug to which others conform
(0)
15 Ginnt sound seems a suitable
nagram (10).
19 Fish (8).
20 Alnost ability (8).
23 This describes a sole effort (7), 25 If this boat loses a letter it is no longer smart in appearance (0).
20 This worker is never hot head-
ed' (0)...
20 A young salmon (4)."
SATURDAY'S SOLUTION K_B__K_B" PICKLE HEARHEA RUO 11
O O F O LINING BANKBOOK LF-E
THREE TONA I NORIMINATING D IN B B NERVE JAMA OUSTARD E
FTOH
AHORSKO REEL E
TULEKON A
HEARTY B
i
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