NURSES' FUND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9657, 14 July 1919, Page 5

NURSES' FUND.

METhWEN RESIDENTS EXPLAIN.

Mr F. W. Watt reported to tffe Hospital Board to-day that the sum of £432 10s Id had been collected up to' date for the Nurses' Memorial Fund in this County.

The chairman said although not a large amount, it was a. fairly good sum, and the .nurses and all those who assisted in the collecting deserved to be specially thanked. Mr W. J. Dickie, M.P., stated he would like to make an explanation in regard to the small amount collected in Methven district to this fund. The nurses came to Methven on Thursday last and neither he nor Mr Doherty knew they were coming. A number of the people had no idea what the nurses were collecting for. He admitted that if the visit had been more widely advertised, the result would have been different. If the various districts in the County had been systematically canvassed, he was sure the amount could be brought up to £1000. / Methven was now arranging a hospital ball to help along this fund, and he hoped the members of the board would attend and help it along. The chairman said Mr Dickie had stated that it was not known the nurses would he collecting in Methven. Personally, he was not going to take any blame in tills matter. The clerk had been instructed to send out circulars to a.U the local bodies in the district, and also to the school committees, setting out that the collections would be made. Advertisements had also been inserted ,in the "Guardian." He was pleased Mr Dickie recognised the fact that they had done very little for the fund in Methven, and they were going to do a great deal more. (Laughter). If all the other districts would take similar action he ..would only be too flleased. Mr Dickie said it seemed to him the chairman was always afraid of taking blame.

The chairman: "Well, you are in the habit of blaming mo.".

Mr Dickie, continuing, said it was right to. send the circulars to the Road Boards, but still many people inMethven did not know what the fund was for. He considered now that a progressive policy was to be adopted with the hospital the people of the country districts would take a keen interest. in the institution and do the right thing.

Mr J. Cairns said he was pleased the people- of Ashburton had taken an interest in the 'fund for the nurses who had done so much for the soldiers during the war. Mr T. Doherty said the day originally . selected to collect in Methven was stormy, and no collection was made. The collection the, other day was iv the nature of a surprise visit. They eoukl not expect to tap the wealth of the district without some proper organisation. He considered that a house to-house canvass was necessary. He contended that Methven people'were just as interested in the hospital as the residents in any other part of the County. Methven people were now prepared to take thiß matter up and endeavour to raise a sum worthy of the district.