Methodist Replies To Dr. H. R. Donald

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 1

Methodist Replies To Dr. H. R. Donald

Whereas a survey showed that only 34 per cent ot Christchurch aged preferred a secular old people’s home to one run by a religious group, 65 per cent of institution beds tor the aged in the city were in fact provided by secular bodies, the superintendent of the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission (the Rev. W. E. Falkingham) told the North Canterbury Methodist Synod yesterday.

“Nevertheless, I am sure Methodists welcome efforts by any organisation to provide i accommodation for the aged in this city,” he said. I Mr Falkingham had been i asked by the Rev. G. K. Greening to comment on statements by the chairman of the Christchurch Aged People's Welfare Council (Dr. H. R. Donald) that certain church bodies had urged the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) not to approve efforts by the council to establish a home for the aged in Lyttelton street, and that many aged persons did not like living in church-run homes. Mr Greening said the mission’s "image” in the community had been damaged through its having made no response to Dr. Donald's statements. “1 do not know of any church that has opposed the establishmen' of secular homes for the aged,” said Mr Falkingham. “Certainly the Methodist Church has not done so. “Nevertheless, I would contend that the homes run by the various churches are not sectarian homes as has been alleged. In the eyes of the Government and the Church they are community homes. Indeed, a condition of the acceptance of Government subsidy is that these homes admit any in need, irrespective of the person’s religious beliefs.

I believe that these homes are completely acceptable to most of our elderly people in the community. In a survey of the needs of the elderly in Christchurch conducted bv the School of Social Sciences of Victoria University in 1952-53, one question put to those interviewed sought their opinion as to who should run homes for old people. “Forty-five per cent preferred church-run homes, 18 per cent preferred homes run by voluntary non-religious bodies, 16 per cent preferred local-body or State-run homes and the rest had no particular preference. “At the present time, most aged people in homes and hospitals for the aged in Christchurch are not in church homes. Six hundred and eight beds are provided by the North Canterbury Hospital Board and th. Nurse Maud Dls J ’ r Nursing Association, and 398 beds are provided in church homes. The fact is that at present 65 per cent of our aged folk are cared for in non-religious homes, whereas according to the survey only 34 per cent prefer accommodation in secular homes.”

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