PARKE ISLAND COMMITTEE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 113, 27 April 1933, Page 4

PARKE ISLAND COMMITTEE

ANNUAL MEETING. ART UNION ASSISTANCE. The annual meeting of the Parke Island Joint Committee was held yesterday. Present: Messrs A. E. Bedford (chairman), J. Millar, W. H. Rathbone, D. Eddy, N. P. Eriksen, L. Stein and H. Hill. Leave of absence was granted to Mr C. O. Morse. In connection with a proposal to hold an art union for the purpose of raising funds to rebuild Parke Island Home a considerable amount of correspondence was received stating that the committee could not expect to be the •sole participant in any art union, and the prospects of being able to receive a substantial share seemed very remote. The ec:. littee agreed that the re-establishment the home was essential. Mr L. Stein slated that under one I cont.ol the management was considerably cheaper than the present arrangement of having the inmates in various homes. Further, the inmates were not 1 obtaining the same amount of pleasure as they hitherto enjoyed, as the nature of entertainment was now greatly restricted. He suggested that the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board should be approached to obtain the sanction of the Health Department and the Loans Board for a loan for the rebuilding of the home on the old site. Something would now have to be done, as the * chances of an art union appeared to be unlikely. Several members concurred that other steps would have to be taken in Older to have the home re-established. Mr Stein suggested that the committee should ask for a share in the art union, as even £5OO would bo hotter than nothing. The committee decided to adopt Mr Stein’s suggestion to ask the Minister to include the Old People's Home in the next art union or as soon as he possibly could. s The chairman in his annual report ) stated the committee now had 51 ini mates in its charge in the various homes. He had frequently visited the different homes, and was well satisfied with the manner in which they were being conducted. In all cases the patients were well cared for and fed. “Throughout the year we have endeavoured to obtain the Government’s 3 sanction to an Art Union for the purpose of raising funds for the rc-build-

iug of the Home,” he continued. In spite of repeated promises of assistance from the Minister of Internal Affairs and others we are no further ahead. At a conference held in Wellington on June 10, between officers of the Department of Health and representatives of the three contributory Boards, it was decided that in future each Board should be responsible for the maintenance of any new inmates sent in from their own district, but any undomiciled inmates sent in to be a charge on the three contributory Boards pro rata. A Supplementary Agreement embodying this decision was subsequently drawn up and approved. The chairman’s annual report stated: “It will be noted that the estimated levy foi the new financial year is very on'siderably reduced. As we have nowonly one patient in other hospitals, and very few new admissions are being made to the homes, it is considered that this should be ample to meet the expenses of maintenance. It must be remembered that we are now collecting over £l,OOO per annum in old age pensions, which helps considerably.” In moving the adoption of the chairman’s annual report, Mr Stein said: “The committee is very fortunate indeed in having such a chairman as Mr Bedford to take so great an interest in the comfort and welfare of the old men The report which he has presented to the meeting is a great credit to him. He is to be congratulated on the immense amount of time and trouble ho has spent in carrying out so ably his duties as chairman of our committee.” The estimates totalling £4500 for the ensuing year were approved. These include grants for contributing hospital boards £3300 as, against £4300 last year which will mean a considerable saving to the ratepayers. Despite the difficulties that had to be overcome the finances improved during the year the debit balance being reduced from £921) 12/7 to £l5l 17/9. Tribute was paid to the excellent maniiei in which the officials had carried out their duties, while the hope was expressed that the retiring members, Messrs Bedford, Morse and HHI, «oul’d all be re-elected.