THE VETERANS' HOME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 111, 7 November 1906, Page 7

THE VETERANS' HOME.

A SUCCESSFUL INSTITUTION* ITS POSITION AND PROSPECTS. The Veterans' Home was inaugurated by our late Governor, Lord Ranfurly, in 1902, and opened by him in December, 1903. It has therefore been in existence sufficiently long to make some particulars regarding its working of general interest. The average number of veterans resident in the institution during the past year was forty. They have lived in a condition of comfort greater than they could have secured under any other circumstances p os& ible to them, and that they have appreciated this fact is fully proved by their exemplary conduct in the institution. Two only had to leave the Home — their courage in youth was greater than their discretion in old age — and, there are many applicants waiting their turn for admission. The youngesb veteran is 67 years of age ; tha oldest 85. When the age of these old soldiers is considered, and it is remembered that almost all have undergone the piivations and hardships of campaigns, the scarcity of illness at the Home shows their method of life is wonderfully healthy. As an illustration of the universality of their services, it is worth mentioning that one veteran earned his medal at the capture of Acre sixty-six years ago ! Five wear the medals for Crimea, gained half a century since ; nine have the red and white riband for the Indian Mutiny ; two wear the Baltic medal given while the British chips were still hearts of oak ; and others have medals for fighting in China, Afghanistan, Ashanti, and Egypt. One was awarded the distinguished service medal, two the meritorious, and four the long-service and good conduct medals, while thirty fought with the Imperial and colonial forces in the various New Zealand wars from 1845 onwards. Many of the veterans have Imperial special campaign pensions, in addition to the New Zealand old-age pension, and consequently are able to, and do, pay considerable sums for their maintenance in the Home ; but it must be remembered that the special campaign pensions will prove a diminishing quantity. Tile cost of working the Home, including the board and salaries of the superintendent and staff, averages 12s l^d per week per man. This sum includes clothing and an allowance of tobacco and beer. When it is remembered that the object of the Home is to secure for the veterans something far superior both in comfort and status to the ordinary old men's homes, it must be admitted thai these working expenses show very careful management. As is the Case with ifiost new institutions, various alterations and additions have been found necessary in" connection with the Veterans' Home, and no less a sum than £325 was expended during the past year in sanitaTy and" other improvements, notwithstanding which the invested funds have been increased by £600", x and now amount to £6300. The total sum received since the inception of the Home is £14.981. The site is freehold, the buildings, furniture, etc., are all paid for, and there are absolutely no debts. ' On the whole these figures are satis- i factory, but it must be added that to keep the Home going and at the same time to add to the capital fund requires constant effort. In view of this, tha i bonrd earnestly appeals to the public i to aid them by annual subscriptions, by donations, by legacies, and by organising enteittinrnents in the various centres in aid of the capital account. It is estimated that this fund will require an addition of at lealt £12,000 to make the Home entirely Self-supporting and independent of future contributions. In view of the fact that the future inmates will be mainly Nfew ZealanderS who fought in the Maori -wars, and the South African campaign, the claims of the institution upon the people of the colony nre very strong. It is sometimes argued that" the Government should take over the Home ; but it must be remembered that this would place the veterans- in the position of inmates of the ordinary old men's homes, thus lowering the character of the institution, and defeiting thereby the main object f<sr which it wns created. Tho Government has, however, on several occasions subsidised private donations in aid of the Home to the extent of £1 for £1. The honorary medical and dental practitioners are most generous and i.selfsacrificing in their gratuitous attendance on the old men, and the clergy, of the various denominations attend to tho spiritual welfare of the inmates of the Home. The buildings ftre complete, CommodiouSi' clcanY nnd comfortable. They, are wen situated, and altogether the Home, -fulfils the anticipations of Lord RanWfly and those liberal people who helned. Some there are who think the merest refuge is good enough for the defenders of their country when age — 'Unprovided for — cornea upon them, forpettnig that the characteristics whioh distinguish the daring soldier aia not those which make the providont citizen. It would be Well for such people to remember this, nnd perhaps to recall Kipling's lines:—"An 1 if sometimes our conduct isn't all your f.incy paints, Why, single men in bnrricks don't grow into , plaster Mints; While it's Tommy this, nn' Tommy that, an' j' Tommy fall behind ; But it'a 'plea;? to vrall: in front, sir, 1 when .'there's trouble in the wind." His Excellency the Governor, who is president, and the members of the board are entitled to the thanks of the community for their successful efforts to assure the welfare of the veterans. All who are proud of our army nnd of our navy should help the management to make quite sound tho foundations of New Zealand's Chelsea.