FRIENDS OF THE HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26671, 4 March 1952, Page 2

FRIENDS OF THE HOSPITAL

ANNUAL MEETING Representatives of several kindred associations, aS well as a large gathering of members, attended the annual meeting of The Friends of the Hospital last evening. The president (Miss Mary McLean) presided. The 6th annual report, on which the honorary secretary, (Mrs Arthur Morten) was complimented, reviewed the activities of a busy year. It recorded that the mending circle, with Mrs V. J. Drake as convener, and an average attendance of 10 helpers, had met weekly throughout the year and had repaired hundreds of articles and replaced thousands of buttons and tapes, that Mesdames V. K. Thornton, Rix and Bell had visited members of the Pensioners’ Association in hospital and provided small comforts for them, and that in return the pensioners had knitted for The Friends and that Mrs M. J. Gay had regularly visited patients in the Cashmere Sanatorium. The sewing circle, the report continued, with Mrs E. Dunham as convener, had made dozens of garments needed in the hospitals and homes, a large number of knitte4 garments had been made by Miss G. Hungerford and her knitting circle, the Burwood Aids (directed by Mrs G. McLean) had continued the useful work they had done at the Burwood Hospital for nearly seven years, and the nursery group, convened by Mrs Hunt, was in charge of the creche at the Christchurch hospital on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. Mrs A. H. Hammett and Mrs A. M. Moore were thanked for visiting patients in the Burwood Hospital and Mrs E. M. Keith and Mrs Mercer for visiting the Jubilee Home. The report mentioned that if permission were granted members would in future visit patients in the Cluny Villa at Sunnyside. Mrs Morten appealed for more members and more knitters to help in providing comforts for the sick and suffering. Mr V. C. Lawn (chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board), Dr. W. Gordon Rich (president of the Tuberculosis Association), and Mrs W. McKay (a member of the Hospital Board) spoke appreciatively of the service given by The Friends of the Hospital to the many institutions in which they were interested. A tribute was paid to Mrs G. H. Watts, who was the first president. A representative of the Girl Guides offered to staff the creche at the Christchurch Hospital on the afternoons of the second and fourth Sunday of each month. After the business meeting, a short musical programme was provided .by Mrs W. E. Olds (accompanist), and Mesdames Jessie Hosking and Joan Davies, who were thanked by Mrs Drake. . # Officers were elected as follows*— President. Miss McLean; vice-presi-dents. Mesdames Drake, . Hammett, Miss Hungerford and Mrs E. Morris; honorary treasurer, Miss E. M. Guy; honorary secretary, Mrs Arthur Morten; committee. Mesdames M. Ellis. M. J. Gay. Hammett. Miss Hungerford, Mesdames Keith, E. McLean, A. M. Moore and Thornton.