ST. HELEN’S HOME.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2075, 16 March 1922, Page 5

ST. HELEN’S HOME.

(trustees wait on minister. NEARING A HEAD. Hon. C. .T. Parr, Minister of Public Health, received a deputation in Palmerston North last night, consisting of the St. Helens’ Homes trustees, viz., Dr. Paget and Messrs J. Aitchison, E. H. Clere and A. Westmoreland. Dr Valintlne was also present. Air J. A. Nash, M.P., introduced the deputation, and outlined the recent campaign to raise a certain sum lor the purpose of establishing a St. Helen’s Home. Owing to the financial stringency prevailing at the time only £2SOO was raised, it'was understood i that when the money was raised it I was to be handed over to the Govern'ment on the understanding that the I establishment of the hospital would be proceeded with immediately. Trustees had been appointed, and the present position, as it affected them. ] would bo placed before the Minister. ! Dr. Paget said that £2SUO was in jhand: or rather raised. It was not ! actually in hand on account of a ;futile dispute on the part of the late treasurer, Mr J. B. Gerrand. He, I the treasurer, would not pass the j money over to the properly-appointed trustees to the fund unless the Minister indemnified him. Me Parr: Has he the whole amount? I Dr. Paget said the money had been deposited with the Borough Council, but the treasurer would not hand over the receipt. Air Gerrand, it was I understood, intended to see the Minister in the matter. I Mr Parr: As a lawyer. I should say j he has probably been legally advised. The resolution under which the money had been raised said that the amount subscribed had to be handed over to the Government — t Dr. Paget: On certain conditions. , Air Parr: I understand that it was to "establish” a home. ■ SUGGESTION OF "TINKERING.” Dr. Paget; If you look at the minute you will notice the word “establish” has been written in over 5 an erasure. Air Parr; Do you suggest there has been corrupt practice in altering this , minute? ‘ Dr. Paget: I do, sir, on somebody s ' 'part. 3 1 Mr Nash: This is the first time I ’ have heard of such a suggetion. Dr. Paget repeated that something l 'lhad been rubbed out and the word 1 “established” written in. - 1 Air Parr; It seems to be it was a ■I specific direction of the people who ■ gave the money that it should be " handed to the Government, who 1 would build a hospital. Is it com--2 petent for another and subsequent s meeting to alter the terms of the t trust on which that money was eol--2 iccted? Dr. Paget thought it was, and reviewed the later resolutions concerni ing money being taken over and the ’’(appointment of trustees in view ol the result of the campaign. The doctor said the deputation wantled to know whether the Alinister would accept the money on the conjdilion that an up-to-date maternity I hospital should be erected. He would (like to know, also, whether, if a ' subsidy of 2-1/ in the £ was granted. 1 under what conditions the hospital J would be established and managed. 1 Certain sections of the people were bitterly opposed to the hospital having anything to do with the Hospital Board. It was a small, but noisy, faction. They wanted to draw some, hard and fast line between a St. Helen’s ' Home and one managed by a Hospital t Board. Personally, Dr. Paget could not sec where any great difference 5 would be. The original controversy 5 concerned a proposal to buy Air W. 1 Park’s house as a St. Helen’s Home. It was bitterly opposed by almost everybody. He was against it. Had there been any idea that it was intended to revert to the Park house scheme not the slightest interest would have been taken by the public in the campaign, and no money would have been forthcoming. If there was any intention of reverting to this ■ scheme, then it would be regarded by - ithe subscribers as a gross broach of ;• faith unci the people would rise up ,’ against it. t WHO FKAAIED THAT RESOLUTION ? 1 Air Aitchison stressed the point ■ that the people were under the impression that the money was being raised for the erection of an up-to-date St. Helen's Home. Some thought there was a difference between a St. Helen’s and a Hospital Board administered Home. Probably there was, but the people at the time wanted a St. Helen’s Home, built in brick. Air Clere said be was satisfied the resolution was not the one the comx mittee passed. They had only just j discovered the marks of an erasure. Air Nash; “I think Dr. Paget and Air Clere are going too far. I I framed that resolution, I know I Dr. Paget. “J framed It!” i Air Nash: “I framed the resolution that was carried. It is a very ’ grave charge to make. I agree that it looks as if some erasure had been made. The files say ‘‘established,’’ and the reporters said “established" in their reports of the meeting. Dr. Paget: However, the whole pith of tho meeting was that Air Park’s house was not to be taken. Mr Nash: Certainly. I am not trying to urge Air Park’s house. 1 have never made any representations ’b in that matter. i- The Alinister supported Air Nash, >r saying he had been most impartial, !- and had preferred that tho parties n should settle the matter with the ;c Government themselves, a Mr Nash said lie did not like any suggestion being made against the integrity of Mr R. »S. Watson, the late secretary. Dr. Paget denied that he was making any suggestion against Air Watson. Mr Parr: Whatever the erasure was. I don’t think it could be worth discussing. ~ Mr Nash: It is not fair to Mr Watson. Air Parr: It is certainly not. I ’* agree with you. Dr. Paget: So long as Air Park’s n house is put out of tho question it is ‘ e alright. 3 ’ Continuing, he said that if the Minf* ister found it possible to grant a sub- ® sidy which would allow of tho esd tablishment of a nucleus—a small II building—there would be little doubt n | but that the committee would seek j further to swell the fund and build ! up the hospital, i y WILL HEAR BOTH SIDES, d g Replying, the* Alinister said he ~ would not be doing his duty if he t, j did not say at once that the citizens I of Palmerston North Borough and g\ district were deserving of very con:e side ruble credit and congratulations 1 from the. Ministry and Department for

their public-spirited action m attempting to raise the money to givcj proper maternity facilities m this miportant district. That the objects e (£10,000) was not reached, was no fault of the promoters. He thanked them on behalf of the Department. He was not going to discuss the legal position in which the money was placed. It was sufficient for him to say that the money was raised to be handed to the Government for the establishment of the Home. Whether ( the terms could be altered in any ‘ way by a subsequent meeting, sub- * sequent to the collection, was a big < question. He did not think there was any chance of this being (lonoH unless by consent of the Supremo ; Court. There were two ways the j maternity home could be established. ■ One was the erection ol! a Si. Helen’s 1 Homo as was done in the cities. St. i Helen’s Homes were independent of i hospital boards. They were run by the Government, who paid the piper. ; They were successful in their work, but costly. The Department, how- ' ever, had now succeeded in reducing the expenses. It would take £IO.OOO to properly establish a home here. The difference of £7OOO was large, and he would have to fa.ee Cabinet, to whom such proposals must go. He wished to put to Cabinet the alternative suggestion. Assuming, of course, the home was to be erected, tho Hospital Board could be given the money, and they would apply for the subsidy of 24/- in the £l. Tho home could be erected on their grounds or elsewhere, and the hospital would run it. Air Nash: It could do it without Government assistance. It could levy rates if it liked. Air Par;;: Yes, many hospital boards do. That is the proper course for them to take. The departmental officers favoured the hospital board scheme in such cases. It was for the Alinister and Government to decide. He intended to hear other deputations on the matter and would bring the question before Cabinet within a fortnight. It was a matter of finance, if the Government had to take the responsibility. Even if the Hospital Board took it over it would mean £SOOO or £OOOO from the Government. The Alinister said he could not. therefore, give an answer that night. He wanted the views of all sections, and he must give the Frindlv Societies —an important organisation —a hearing. Dr. Paget pointed out to the Alinistcr that some deputations ho would receive did not subscribe to the fund as bodies, although they might have done so as individuals. Air Parr said he intended to hear them all the same. It was a public question, and he wanted the opinions of flic community. The Alinister promised to give an answer within a fortnight.