COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26395, 13 April 1951, Page 2

COUNCIL OF WOMEN

AID FOR IMMIGRANTS SOUGHT

An appeal to Christchurch women for help in assimilating immigrants into the community was made by Miss H. M. Arnold at a- meeting of the National Council of Women in Christchurch last evening. The president (Miss Mary McLean), who presided, said that much public interest was being shown in immiS ration. The finding, of accommodaon for immigrants would probably be another job to be undertaken by the council this year. “Any work which can be done for mental hospital patients or their families, will not be easy,” said Dr. S. W. P. Mirams, of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital, who also addressed the gathering. “The fact that many of these persons are desperately in need of help does not mean that they are willing to accept help. “It is quite possible that you will be met with a certain amount of hostility because, for anyone who does any work in this connexion, gratitude in the pleasing sense is not to be expected.” • ’

Dr. Mirams said that in many cases the families of the patients presented a more difficult proposition than the patients themselves. Often the families took longer to recover from the shock of having one of their members admitted to a mental institution, than did the patient himself. One of the most successful outings undertaken by members of the Mental Trust Committee had been the pic»ic held in Abberley Park for more wan 100 patients of the Sunnys.ue Hospital, said a report given by Mrs y. J. Drake. The matron (Miss M. Neaas) and some other members of the hospital staff, had accompanied the P a V e Pts- Members of_the committee had been responsible for the catering. The success of the clothes drive for CORSO had far exceeded the committee’s expectations, reported Miss H. K. Lovell-Smith. As a result, 25 cases containing thousands of garments had been sent overseas. Miss Lovell-Smith urged all members to give their wholehearted support to the house-to-house drive for funds being conducted by the Bible classes in Christchurch on Saturday. The proceeds from the drive would be spent on dried milk and other food to be sent to India and Egypt as soon as shipping space was available, she added.

The need for a small house to be set aside for a retired nurse or some other capable woman, who could lend a helping hand in cases of minpr ailments in the nensioners’ settlements, was emShasised by Miss M. G. Havelaar. If le City Council, out of its Generosity, could see its way clear to allot one cottage for this purpose it would be much appreciated, she added. A recommendataion to this effect was approved by the meeting. The designer of the frocks for the Moral Rearmament play, ‘The Forgotten Factor” (Mrs Ivan Menzies), was the guest speaker for the evening.