The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1906.

Evening Star, Issue 12875, 26 July 1906, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1906.

The foundation stone of the new medical wing at the Dunedin Hospital e kid with doe ceremony Hospital, by His Excellency the Go

vernor yesterday afternoon, it was fitting that this traditional task should bo performed by the representative of a Sovereign whose interest in the extension and improvement of hospital facihties is of the keenest and most practical kind especially as this interest is shared by Lord Plnnket himself, who has done pinch to further the special project which the local? Hospital Trustees have in hand. His Excellency observed that it seemed to bo only the other day that he was taking part in the memorable movement of more than a year ago; and we, on onr part, arc not likely to forget those busy days when the pressure of the morning’s work was pleasantly accentuated by the inward rush of a flood of beneficent shillings. The people cf Dunedin did their duty nobly on that occasion, and they now have the satisfaction of knowing that in a few months’ time the equipment of the Hospital will—at least in regard to essentials—be in accordance with the demands of contemporary science We echo file congratulations voiced yesterday, and desire particularly to emphasise the tribute paid to tha medical staff, who must be regarded as the-real authors of the prospective improvements. One drawback may be mentioned in passing. The new wing will encroach considerably on the Hospital gardens; but this cannot be helped, and it is too late in the day, as Mr Miller says, to discuss the question whether a new site should not have been chosen when the first extension became necessary. Lord Plunket’s suggestion that the “Hospital Saturday” collections should bo an annual feature in the cmc activity will, we feel sure, meet with general approval. Dr Barnett aptly pointed' out that though with the construction of the wing the Hospital would lie provided with all essential equipment for the time being, still, “in a place situated “as Dunedin is. with its Medical School “advancing to a position of considerable importance, something more than essen“tia,s is squired.” The staff are entitled to ask for “everything that can fairly be " cons idered as important and useful in the “ treatment of the sick and suffering.” Essential requirements are, or should he, provided by means of compulsory taxation, whereas matters of less urgent necessity may suitably be associated with voluntary contributions, subsidised by the public funds. As Dr Batchelor has often said, hospital equipment cannot remain stationary : it must either advance or fall back • and every year the staff will have to make requisitions, which the Trustees, without aid from outside benevolence, may not ai'ways be able to grant without . delay. “ Hospital Saturday,” then, should take its place as a permanent institution in Dunedin. We have tried again and again to “inculcate a habit of leaving legacies” to spell worthy agencies of civilisation as the hospital and the university, and it is to be hoped tliat Dr Barnett’s timely reference to the subject will not be entirely without effect. True, even in " other countries,” rich people do not always do their duty in this matter. Sir Charles Tennant left over three millions behind him without bequeathing a penny to charitable objects—and yet “when the hour came for “him to lay down the burden of life he “ fell asleep with the quiet and nntrpqbjed “conscience cf a tired child"! We should he inclined to say that the good millionaire’s conscience bore a further resemblance to that of a child: it was undeveloped— at eighty-three. Still, the number of bequests to charitable institutions ip Great Britain is proportionately much greater than- in New Zealand, and a worthier habit should be sedulously fostered. In conclusion we are glad to note the Hon. Mr Duncap’s sympathetic reference to the late Premier's project of setting apart a portion of the public estate for educational and charitable purposes, “It was not too much “ to say that if two million acres were set “ apart for education and one million acres “ for hospitals it would be a very good “thing.” Mr Duncan promises to have a Bill dealing with the subject prepared for the consideration of his successor as Minister of Lands, and we trust that Government and Parliament will make a point of carrying Mr Sed-don’s views into immediate effect..