SAMARITAN HOME.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12906, 11 September 1907, Page 8

SAMARITAN HOME.

MEETING OF TRUSTEES

At the meeting of the Samaritan Homo Trustees, hold yesterday, there were present :—Messrs H. B. Sorensen (in the chair), F. J. Board, W McMillan, B. P. Manhire, J. Hayes, 8. C Hastings Bridge, and Mrs J. H. Wilson (who was elected a member of the Trustees to fill the vacancy caused by .\lrs Dunkley's resignation.

The report of the House Committee stated there were, at present in the Homo 21 men, 34 women and 2 infant*—a total of 57 inmates. Since the last report 8 men had been admitted and 8 discharged, 14 women had been admitted and 8 women and 2 infants discharged. The Committee desired to bring under tho notice of the irustces tho desirability of keeping some of the maternity cases in the Home for a longer period than six months. Tho Chairman remarked that a number of men who had been admitted lately were old vagrants, and it was difficult to know what to do with them. With regard to the men sent to the Home under long sentence., some new work had to bo provided for them, and he (Mr Sorenson) had ordered a quantity of tools, co that some employment might bo found for those men who were capable.

Mr Board suggested giving greater publicity to the matter, ac possibly some of the firms in Christchurch would offer work for tho canable men. Mr Brdgo thought that if tho Trustees could obtain control over moro ground, the men might be put to nower-amlening, end they would then bo nblo to mako money out of tho towers. Mr Sorensen stated that nearly all the available ground -was under cultivation at present, and it was doing very well in producing the vegetables required by the Home. Mr Bridge, speaking on tho proposal with regard to maternity casea, said there were cases in which it -would be beneficial both for tJie mother and child if the term were extended. Some of the girls came in over and over again to be confined. If the term were irade too long, however, the girls would not come at all. In the event of the period being extended, they would have to judge each case on its nerits.

Mr Sorensen said that, in regard to mentally deficient girls, Dr. Truby King had recently stated it did not necessarily follow that tho children ot these giris would also be imbecile; in fact some of the latter were quite robust, physically and mentally. Mr Manhire stated that it was a mistake for the State to relieve these women of th-eir children. If the rrother were made resnonsible for tho welfare of her child, she would not get into trouble again. Mr Bridge thought it best for the women to have their children under their control. Some of the women, however, had to earn their living, which they could not do if they had to tako charge of the children. Mr Board was of opinion that when the woman was compelled to look after her first child, it acted n« a deterrent against further wrong doing. They should try to foster the maternal feeling in these women.

Mr Hayes contended that if the mother were mentally deficient, it was in.pcssible for her to look after her child properly. Mr Johnsion iaid it was a matter for mental experts to decide. Mr Board remarked that a great danger was creeping in, owing to the people expecting tho State to look atier the children. The parents should bo made to l'e<?l thoir respoasibiiity. The report was eventually adopted.