THE WHITE SCOURGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 100, 3 June 1914, Page 10

THE WHITE SCOURGE.

HOSPITAL OPENED.

(Continued from Page 5.)

<- J ;At the. opening of the King George ,r vC; Coronation Memorial Hospital for Consumptives there was a veiry fair at•fcndance of the public, all the available fceommodation being, occupied, Mr P., Ilorrell, chairman of the ])Corth CanterfaiT y Hospital and Charitable Aid

Voard, presided. Amongst those present jtere his Lordship Bishop Julius (Aiigfltfcn Bishop of Cliristclrarch), his LordAlj) Bishop Grimes (Roman Catholic tJisJrop of Christclmrch), Mr ,T. H. 'T>avey, M.P., the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr - 11. Holland), Hon. H. F. Wigram,* Eev. J;. Smythe, Crs Williams, Sorensen, and Miller, Mr H. E. Smith (city clerk and treasurer of the citizens' fund which provided the cost of the home), members and officers of the Hospital Board, and representatives of the Harbour Bpard, and several other local bodies. ■- • "

Apologies for absence were received from I)r Valentine, I nspector-General bf Hospital?, and others. Proceedings were opened by Bishop Julius with prayer. The chairman of the Hospital Board

(Mr Horrell) then delivered an address. He said:— 4 lt is with very great pleasure and thankfulness that 1 am present to-day, at the culmination of the wishes of those ladies and gentlemen who three years ago worked so strenuously to provide a fitting memorial of the crowning of our gracious King. That the memorial should have taken its present form shows with what high ideals those responsible approached their task. What nobler service can there be than the alleviation of human suffering, or what greater work can be undertaken than the protection of the public health, so as to prevent these ills, which necessitate the erection of such buildings as this for their amelioration? No doubt the subscribers to the fund for this building feel that a lot of time has elapsed in bringing their wishes to fruition; but that was xmavoidable. '' The consideration of the plans alone took months. The money was collected in 1011, and.a tender was accepted in October, 1912, the price being £10,450. But before the builder could get to work a contract for levelling and excavating the site had to be completed. It was not until the end of 1912 that Mr Taylor, the contractor,* could really get to work. The foundationstone was laid by his Excellency the Governor in January, 191.'}, and now in

June, 1914, we are able to say that everything is really complete, and it affords the board much pleasure in being able to invite subscribers and public generally to be present at the opening ceremony,. for which we have been fortunately able to secure the assistance of the Honourable Mr Rhodes, Minister in charge of Hospitals and Public Health. "The building and equipment, with drainage and laying out the site, has cost over £15,000, of which sum £4159 was subscribed by. the public; £4990 came from subsidy. The balance was paid out of rates and'subsidy. ' 4 There ia reason to be proud of the

North Canterbury community iuastnHfck as there in no word of complaint at th® cost entailed in maintaining such institutions as this;; arid no matter ?wfcat-. further expense vtlie Boaird ha.s to provido for/I am sure there will be n» dissent in the district provided that-it is in the direction.'of "helping the sufferers, or in combating disease. " ' ' '' BLEEDING THE " GOVERNMENT.'»

The Mayor,, in the course of a shorft address, said that one. of the most pleasing features of the tuilding and tho Home was that the committee -which was set up to establish a memorial to the Coronation of King George had been able to bring its scheme to such a successful issue,, and t hat it had beeu . able to "bleed" the Government for so anteh. Now they hail another' scheme * on hand—a home for the 'little ones—and they hoped to .be able to. bleed tha Government eveli more. . (Applause and laughter.) He was svirc that everyone must agree with him ?,h at no more fitting memorialof the uccasion could have been decided on than the Hom» which they were now opening.

A GLORIOUS PRIVILEGE. Bishop Grimes said that ait a great GhUreh Congress at Brussels he had. heard. a young nobleman say that to stretch a helping .hand to those who were sick and afflicted was not only a duty 1 to his class, but a glorioiiH"privilege. Ho had never forgotten those •was remarkable feat throughout the ages the initiative in . the. light against-- disease had been taken by private persona and not by the. State, "as- such. - Now, in Christchur'ch one * of the m&st notable " institutions 'ihad • been.' founded -by ' thai ; •family of which the Minister now with / them was the head—the Rhodes Con- ; valescent . Home. (Applause.) ; . All classes and all denominations had combined in Canterbury in jsiieh work, with > the consequence that- their province was far ahead of - any : other: in * the fight j against disease. (Applause.) The Hon. H. i\ WigrauL said that -ha , looked upon the institution now being opened -as one • of' .the - blockfhoufies to ? protect the. nation against the inyasinii - of , this insidious disease. Surely the ' time was ripe when all' political patties ' should combine together to pfevett tha inroads of. the disease. (Hear, hear.) . The Goverilmeht would 'gain thc support of all,parties ; ;if they'wfere.:to "take soinie' [ such campaign; in /hand. 1 . '-•