PUBLIC OPINION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2124, 16 May 1922, Page 5

PUBLIC OPINION.

STpr'HELEN'S HOME. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In Friday's report in trie "Manawatu Daily Times" of the St. Helen's Home Committee, Dr. Paget is said to have made the following statement with reference to utilising a wooden building for a St. Helen's Home. "I tell you this, that the Hon. C. J. Parr, for some peculiar reasons, is trying to ignore the whole of the medical advice of New Zealand." Now, such statements as these must show the people of this district to what length Dr. Paget will go. 1 have before me the "Manawatu Daily Times" containing the letter signed by the twelve doctors of Palmerston North in favour of the establishment of a St. Helen's Home in Palmerston North, and in the letter there is no opinion expressed as to whether it should be wood or brick, and I am reliably informed that the first letter presented by Dr. Paget to the doctors to sign, stated that the building must be of brick, but this the doctors refused to sign, and afterwards signed the letter which left the question open as to whether it should be of wood or brick. Now, Sir, will Dr. Pagefde'riy t'Tlat' this' is correct? It is well known, Mr. Editor, by those who have taken an interest in this question, that every St. Helen's Home in New Zealand is a two-storied building, and with the exception of one, are all of wood, and even in Auckland the St. Helen's Home is a two-storied wooden building. Just recently, the Government Health Department converted a two-storied wooden building at Wanganui into a St. Helen's Home for that progressive little city. I would like to point out that a short time ago, when the Palmerston North Hospital Board contemplated establishing a Maternity Home at the hospital grounds, the Board asked Doctors Valentine and French of the Government Health Department to report upon the suggestion that the nurses' home —a wooden building—be utilized for the purpose, and the two doctors reported to the board in favour of the wooden building being converted into the maternity home for Palmerston North. Surely, Sir, if it was not advisable to use a wooden building for a maternity home, the Government Health Department would have made this report. And is it not a fact that every maternity home in Palmerston North is built of wood? Dr. Paget admitted, to.the .St .Helen's Home Committee that the mixed hospital (which included maternity cases) which he conducted in Stratford, was built of wood. I would also point out that the infectious diseases wards at the Palmerston North Hospital are built of wood, and in these wooden wards the Hospital board deals with all cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, etc. I do not wish to take up too much of your valuable space, Mr. Editor, and .loin you in urging the Mayor to at once call a- public meeting to decide which offer made by the Government will be accepted, and then hand the money over in terms of the resolution upon which it was raised. I feel quite satisfied that the health of the mothers and the babies will be well looked after by the Government Health Department, without the aid of the gratuitous advice of Dr. Paget. —I am etc., SUBSCRIBER TO ST. HELEN'S FUNDS.