XMAS CHEER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10412, 20 October 1927, Page 6

XMAS CHEER.

NO “CHEERIO” FROM GOVERNMENT. FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS. Patients unfortunate enough to spend tiie festive season in the Cook Hospital will have* to depend on publip, generosity to make voluntary contributions for the purchase of Christmas cheer this year. Advice received from the DirectorGeneral of Health by the Board yesterday, stated that the Government subsidy would not he paid on amounts given for the purpose of providing extras for patients at Christmas, it being contended that Government money should not .be available for purposes for which ratepayers money would hot he available. The provision of Christmas cheer for .patients was admirable and essential and might well be the subject of. yolunIry contributions by the public, who would no doubt readily respond. The chairman stated that the Board hipl .claimed the subsidy o:i Christinas cheer Contribution last year, but laid been compelled, to disgorge the money back to the' Department. He suggested that ; if any person made a donation without stipulating on what it should-be expended, the Board could claim a subsidy. oh,that sum and expend it iu. ’Christmas cheer for the patients. . ... . . ■ ■ It--.was,'rhoweverj pointed out that the* Board- ‘Would run /the risk of having,'expenditure of subsidy on Christinas cheep ‘ ‘tagged’ ’ by the auditor. v The -ciidirman said the Board would have jtd rely, on the .contributions of the-public, to yvhom ail appeal would be ! made in December. •