OPEN-AIR HOMES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15111, 29 October 1914, Page 5

OPEN-AIR HOMES.

REPORT ON THE SITES,

PORT HILLS RECOMMENDED. At a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, a report was received from JJr. ('. J - Blackmore, meaical director oi tuberculosis institutions, ui/m the sites proposed for tho Open.nr tiyiae lor C.isKueu. The iTtaii Air iiome, said Dr. Blackmore, suoiiiu contain as laucii accommodation a.-> tao iuuus at tne Jioaru's Uia|.osill iU«Ov. %.\l, auu JlO It, ... I,llla L»e w> pjoviue iiLHiut 3U -'*'' u.ecnwootl, ot Teviotuajo, i ~aa mui*o a liiOsi, generous otter oi a I ciif ot Uiviity acred ior trie iiomo on. I ..ij .tiiiuc.ii'j l>. i ilt j &!(,« Was ,il. cM-Ciieili O-u , oibUuteu UOOU£ tlllec j »n:»oa uui ill Ot Aiiiue.lej', auu Horn uuii co niit,-e-ti>iji i-L-.o oi a time zioin iiHi m<l.ll j'uau, a.ia cue nearest, liag station. i.iti'iiiv is luiiu. 'lue position stood ji.umuuij ;. A -o triree nuiimcu icet above -ua lokoi, .*.v.i a iiOi'Ciiern anu a i>io t ;e. ijUuieieut for drainage, iiiu not k\> g>cat- as to necesfcitato any pai-tic-Liiar f.\cavatiun ior bunding, purItio isito was luiiy t-xpooed to mo .sun iiii uiiy, and h,au a tuod view. ii,>.'ic was no ioau to it at present, out iie wiiuwieioou tlie Koad liv arils liuer-cou-u worts prepared to construct a roau wKaout cost to the ri'ospitai Board. Uv. jjJackinoro Uiougnf. tnafc there would probably be it considerable amount of uihictiity in providing for tiie Uiapo-sal of Tnat was> practiuai.y the only disadvantage about tho jilnce a tsite. As t.ie site was such a good one, and cou.d be obtained ireo of'cost, it would bo necessary to show that some grave disadvantage attached to the acceptance of the offer before recommending the Board to look elsewnore. Such disadvantage existed, he thought, in tho distance of tho Institution from town and from the other tuberculosis institutions. If tho iiome were piaced at Amoerley it must (it ••necessity cost more to administer than if it were nearer town, and efficient administration would be nioro- difficult. Medically, the Homo would havo to be looked after by a local medical man. A second disadvantage duo to the distance of the Homo from town would Do tjiat the otficers respontiblo for conducting tho campaign against tuberculosis would lose touch with tbe Institution and the children. .Dr. iJiacumore continued:—"l do not wish to luter for one moment that a homo placed at Amuerley would not do oxceiitiiit work. 1 am cure it would. At tho feanie time 1 do not think it would do all that such a homo is capable of doing, or that it could be worked to the best advantage al N Aiuberley. "Mr Greenwood uas ehown such fine generosity, and the helpful interest shown by the Amberley; Kouai. and Waipara Boards has been so gratifying that it is with no feeling of pleasure I feel compelled to recommend the Board to seek another site for the Institution." "I was asked to visit Bottle. Lake with a view to deciding whether it is possible to put the Home there. I do not think the site is a suitable ono for such a Home. ' ; "I <lo iiot know of any place in or near Christchurch which has the advantages for tho Fresh Air Home for Children that ' the Port Hills possess. In these Hills Christchurch possesses a health area of the very first order. I have pointed out two or three sites to members of the committee- already, and there are others that can be inspected if those already seen cannot be obtained. '

PORT HILLS RECOMMENDED

"A site on theso Hills has the , advantage that it is close to the children's own'homes;, it can easily be worked in conjunction with the 6ther tuberculosis institutions in Christchurch : the ehil* dren'wilf be under-the supervision of a medical man whoso whole tinie is devoted to de- / g with tuberculosis; and the air has J .oved itself to be unrivalled for improving, the health of delicate children. Until it has been proved to be impossible to obtain what is wanted on these Hills, I do riot feel able to recommend tho Board to. consider other sites." \

Members of the Board were of opinion that the Amberley site was unsuitable oh account of its distance from the city. The selection of a cite was deferred.