WELFARE CENTRES INSPECTED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 2

WELFARE CENTRES INSPECTED

Minister’s Visit To Christchurch

Mrs G. H. Ross, Minister of Social Welfare, who arrived in Christchurch from Wellington on Saturday, spent the morning visiting the welfare centres administered by the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission. Accompanied by Mr' H. R. Lake, member of Parliament for Lyttelton, her secretary, Miss E. Mansfield, and the Rev. W. E. Falkingham, who is in charge of the mission, Mrs Ross was shown over the Rehua hostel for Maori boys in Stanmore road, where y°ung apprentices are in residence, and then went to the mission headquarters in Cathedral square, where good used clothing is stocked and sold at low prices to persons with small incomes. V

2 ext call was t 0 the Durham Street South Methodist Church, where the mission conducts its hot meal service, providing meals for the aged at a nominal charge, and where the work is done largely by volunteers. Soon after 10 a.m., Mrs Ross and Party arrived at Wesley Lodge Eventide Home, in Park terrace, where she was received by the matron (Sister S’ Bor rows) and welcomed by the Bev. H. L. Fiebig, president of the Methodist Church in New Zealand. A special welcome on behalf of the 31 guests at Wesley Lodge was given by Mr D. Nicholson, who paid a warm tribute to the matron and her staff for their kindness and hard work in maintaining the home at its present high standard. Mrs Ross said she was proud to belong to a government that recognised the country’s responsibility fot the aged. The Government had given a 50 per cent, subsidy home, and she was pleased to see the guests so contented and happy in a homelike atmosphere. At Wesley Lodge there is one married couple, and 16 of the guests are between the ages of 81 and 91 years. ■<r Af^ r morn i n S tea had been served, Mrs Ross was shown over the building by Sister Borrows.