FOR INVALID SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 100, 25 October 1916, Page 2

FOR INVALID SOLDIERS

GENEROUS OFFER TO THE

GOVERNMENT,.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 24th October. The Hon. G. W. Russell stated tonight that the Mayor of Christchurch had informed him that a Christchurch gentleman' had made a very handsome offer of a valuable property in North Canterbury, which would be placed at the disposal of the Department, free of cost, for the benefit of soldiers for a space of five years. Mr. Russell said he had not received all the details of the offer, but he could say at once that the owner of the property placed it unconditionally at the disposal of the Department. It would certainly be accepted with sincere gratitude.

" When I say unconditionally," said Mr. Russell, " I mean as regards the class of soldier patient I can place there. I could not consent to have this place taking over the same class of patient that could be sent in the ordinary way to the Queen Mary Hospital, as that would merely be overlapping, and would waste money which has been spent in erecting and equipping the hospital at Hanmer, but if-I could send consumptive patients to this estate it would work in very well indeed. Shelter for patients could be erected in suitable places in the grounds surrounding the house, which could in turn be very conveniently used as an administrative block, and the whole institution could accommodate returned soldiers from the northern portion of the South Island who showed signs of having contracted consumption."

At the City Council to-night the Mayor announced that the property alluded to was the homestead block of Glenmark, and the maker of the offer was Mr. Ronald 0. Duncan. The block consists of 309 acres, together with the homestead buildings, gardens, vinery, and orchard. - ■ .