Plans Ready For Methodist Home

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 10

Plans Ready For Methodist Home

Plans for a new Methodist home for the aged at Papanui had been submitted to the Department of Health and it was expected that approval for calling tenders would be given soon, said the superintendent of the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission (the Rev. W. E. Falkingham). Mr Falkingham was speaking at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Methodist Social Services Association in Christchurch. The Government had already approved a subsidy of $17«,80O but there was expected to be a deficit of about $30,000 between this amount an<! the amount the mission had in. band, he said. Mr Falkingham said tbat the mission's-board was prepared to raise a mortgage of up to $20,000 to meet this cost if necessary. Another long-term development scheme for flats for tbe aged at the Papanui children’s home site in Harewood Road was being considered. Negotiations were being conducted with the Health Department on behalf of the Methodist social service committee in Greymouth for tbe purchase of a property there for the establishment of a home for the aged, said Mr Falkingham. In bis report, Mr H. W. Kelly, the secretary-manager of Wesley House, Marlborough, which is run by tbe Christchurch Methodist Central Mission, said that an internal stairway from. the basement to the main floor and a tea bay had been constructed for holiday guests at aHo tai cost of $1660.

Of this amount, $4OO had been given by a Christchurch friend and the rest had come from revenue and cash reserves. In the nine months to March 31, the permanent accommodation at the house had been fully occupied except for one double room which had been used for holiday guests. There was now a waiting list of eight, he said. The Auckland Central Mission continued to grow said the superintendent (the Rev. A. E. Orr). Accommodation at the Wesley Geriatric Hospital had been full and the trustees had approved the acquisition of two more properties. When these were purchased, a comprehensive plan of the whole property would be considered, including a psychiatric unit, more bed space and flats. Another residence had been purchased for the Ast-ley-Tyler-Leigh Haven and plans had been approved by the Department of Health to cater for seven men. It was hoped that the new house would open at the end of May. Representations were being made to the Department of Health for the four-storey project adjacent to Tyler House. A block of more than Ove acres had been purchased in Kamo, Whangarei, as a joint venture of the Presbyterian and Methodist Social Service

Associations. The property would be held by a trust in Auckland and a board of management would be formed in Whangarei, said Mr Orr. The mission had been greatly encouraged by the ecumenical nature of the in-ter-church counselling centre and Samaritan life-line which Indicated that general guidance, psychological and emotional disturbances, marriage and family problems were the chief aspects of work. The Rev. D. B. Gordon, superintendent of the Dunedin Central Mission, said that a preliminary meeting had been held in Dunedin to consider cooperation between the negotiating churches. The Dunedin Central Mission had already had experience in working with other denominations in the establishment of the Glenwood Home in Timaru, run by the Methodist and Anglican Churches. An emergency advice service had been established in Dunedin organised by the Mental Health Association and the Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist Chprches, said Mr Gordon. At the Eventide Home and Hospital, Company Bay, 78 guests had been in residence during the year, although numbers had been recently reduced because of alterations. There had been a full complement of 20 men at Wesley Manor.