HOSPITAL DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 163, 11 June 1926, Page 6

HOSPITAL DAY.

FEILDING’S HELP SOLICITED

DISCUSSION BY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

(From Our Feilding Correspondent.) At last night’s meeting of the Feilding Borough Council, Mr J.W. BrainAvell introduced a deputation consisting of Mesdames Trask and Palmer and Mr Oakley from the Palmerston North Hospital Day Committee, who had come to Feilding to enlist the help and support of the Feilding Borough Council and citizens in another effort to raise funds for providing patients at the Palmerston North Hospital Avith comforts. Briefly reviewing the Avork of the committee last year, Mr BramAvell said that a sum of over £7OO had been raised and of that amount Feilding and district had contributed just over £IOO. This money had been spent on .comforts, such as dressing gOAvns, slippers, etc., and anything else that was outside the duty of the Hospital Board to supply. The patients had derived great benefit from these articles and it Avas hoped that the appeal would bo successful again this year. Mr Oakley first thanked the coAincil for rc'ieiving the deputation and Avent on to explain that they had been deputed to enlist the services and sympathy of the council in this very desereing matter. All money collected carried a Government subsidy of £1 for £l. and although last year it Avas not proposed to make the appeal an annual one, the success of the previous effort Avarranted an attempt to eclipse it The proposal of the committee Avas on similar lines to the last one, street stalls, concerts, dances and sales of badges being the means of raising the money. Mr Oakley then gave details as to how last j-ear’s money had been expended, mentioning insulated trays for conveying food to the patients, steam ovens in the kitchen, tables Avhereby the patients could have their meals in bed Avith ease and linoleum for the surgical Avard as being some of tliem. The Government subsidy bad been expended in additions to tlio consumptive annexe at the hospital, the subsidy having been handed over unconditionally to the Hospital Board, \Vhich had expended it in the manner mentioned. Mr Oakley Avent on to say that the Palmerston North ladies Avould give the Feilding ladies every assistance and Mrs Trask also said that if the local ladies Avould provide the articles for sale the matron of the hospital had signified her Avillingncss to allow eight or ten nurses to come to Feilding and assist in selling them. The Mayor (Mr W. E. Carthew) pointed out to the deputation that OAving to a resolution on the books of the council permission could not be given to hold a street stall on the date required, July 2nd, as only one stall per month Avas allowed and June and July Avere already booked. Ho suggested that the deputation confer Avith the carnival committee and see whether they AA'ould Avait until August. Mr CartheAV further-assured tlve deputation of the sympathies of the council and intimated that they Avould assist if possible. Considerable discussion took place after the deputation Avithdrew, members being varied in their opinions as to Avhether Feilding Avould receive any benefit from the money raised. It Avas alleged by some that the money collected last year had not been spent in accordance Avith the promises made, the A'arious articles of hospital equipment purchased not coming under some of the members’ definition of comforts for the patients. They Avere, it Avas alleged, ordinary articles of hospital furniture that the board should have supplied, particular exception being taken to £l5O having been spent on linoleum. Various suggestions Avere put forward to dissociate themselves from the Palmerston North effort and make an appeal independently and spend the money as they saw fit. but it Avas subsequently deemed inadvisable to do this, as the action might be misinterpreted and lead to bad feeling. . It Avas finally suggested by Cr Fair that, in the event of £IOO or more being raised, it be suggested to the Hospital Day Committee that the monev be snent on an ambulance to he stationed’ in Feilding to serve the district. A motion to this effect Avas carried.