CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8447, 25 November 1907, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

HOSPITAL DAY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— My attention has been drawn a letter which appeared in your issue of the 22nd inst., signed J. R. Vincent. I must confess I was much surprised to read Mr Vincent's letter, and but for his name to it, I would never have believed he would be so narrow and combative. I feel certain Mr Vincent has experienced newspaper reports, which either give too much or not enough. In this case, had the context been given, even Mr Vincent would have been satisfied. At a meeting of the Hospital Day Ladies' Committee, one lady suggested the advisability of placing collecting boxes on all hotel, bars. I deprecated this course and remarked that boxes without someone to urge their ciaims to the public would be useless, and to illustrate I instanced the only occasion it had been done in this district. The year I established Hospital Day, 1904, every effort was made to, get permission' from all racing clubs in the Hospital district to allow collectors on the course during tho races. Ashhurst was the only club to give permission.. This we gladly took advantage of. Mr C. N. Clausen, my shop assistant, and my daughter went to the Ashhurst Meeting, ■at •! received every courtesy, for which the club was thanked. Mr Clausen can bear me out that boxes placed on tho luncheon table and bars were not used as wo had hoped they would be. It was before the collection of 1904 that at my suggestion the racing clubs were asked to give odd moneys to the Hospital funds, particularly as racing clubs frequently are glad to make use of that institution. I was particularly pleased when I saw Mr Vincent had made such good use of my idea. If all clubs followed such a laudable example, racing would be looked upon with much more toleration than is the case by many at present, I think 'the generosity of the Ashhurst Club is known over the Dominion, so the advertisement was not neccssary —at least at my expense. I much regret, that. Mr Vincent should have misinterpreted my statement of fact. I believe Mr Vincent has the I ■interest and welfare of the Hospital as much at heart as I have. Therefore might I suggest to him Hospital. Day quite outside of any money given by the racing club. I remember a good sum was raised by a concert. Would this not be a suitable occasion for tho Ashhurst residents to "show their appreciation of our noble institution ? Perhaps Bunnythorpe would follow suit. Sir, thanking vou in advance, —I am. etc., R. ESSEX.