THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1897.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10410, 7 April 1897, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1897.

The subject of erecting a fitting memorial of the celebration of the Queen's record reign is looming tip largely in the public mind. It shows the genuine sincerity that is at the basis of the desire to do honour to Her Majesty, wlmjii nearly every mind seems to turn in some way or another in the direction of formulating some, scheme for the purpose. Whether the celebration so far as we are locally concerned should be merely a spectacular display, or should take the form of something less showy but more permanent, seems to be the initial question not yet determined. The mind of the mass is more affected by glare and noise, and in the mass are included a good many people other than those who are merely guided by their animal sensations. Some measure of blare and blaze will be necessary, therefore, as befitting the occasion, but it will be a regrettable thing if the occasion of the whole mind of the people being moved by a common impulse, and that of the most commendable kind, should not be utilised towards leaving a permanent and beneficial as well as a characteristic memorial of the spiritstirring event. It is pleasant to see that the medical profession are moving in a direction as much in accord with the medical instinct as with the spirit of the hour. In another column we ; have the suggestions of two members of the profession, both of them so appropriate and so good that the difficulty is to say which of them is the better. That the memorial, whatever it is should be in the nature of sympathy with the suffering, seems to arise naturally in the consideration of what is to be done to commemorate the reign of the Queen. The personal sympathy of her own kindly nature has been among the principal characteristics that have endeared her to the hearts of the people, and there are few who will not conj elude that either a Children's Hospital | or a Home for Convalescents would exactly symbolise the aspect in which Her Majesty is presented to the popular mind. It is unfortunate for us that the conditions of charitable administration in this colony are distinctly hostile to the putting forth of benevolent effort. We look to the Government to do everything for us, and in fact our charity is regulated by Act of Parliament, When people have been drilled into thinking that benevolent work should be carried out from rates and taxes compulsorily drawn from the people's pockets, people are not disposed to put their hands voluntarily into the same pockets and take from what is left and give to benevolence. How to help it has yet to be thought out, but at present it is too much the case that what is given for benevolent work or for adding to hospitals seems merely to be saving the public exchequer.

In either of the two cases suggested, this aspect may be avoided. Even if a children's wing were added to the hospital by popular benevolence, there is no likelihood of such a wing being otherwise provided by the funds of the State for many a year if ever ■ while the addition of such a boon for sick children in this or some form is painfully needed. We do not know whether absolute separation from the existing hospital is considered an essential feature in the proposal of our correspondent. If so it will require to be remembered that not merely the erection of a children's hospital, but its permanent maintenance has to be reckoned with; and such an institution unless liberally started or subsequently aided by the Government and by local bodies, may be likely to be felt burthensome, wlion the kindly inspirations of the record reign celebrations may have passed away. This is not by any means meant to damp the spirit of this thoroughly benevolent proposal, for if taken up with earnestness, the sympathetic feeling of the occasion might lift the young institution over every danger. But in the spirit of our correspondent's first query "Why not celebrate the Diamond Jubilee by adding a new wing to our Hospital it might be arranged that all or most of the conditions desired in a separate and independent institution might be provided. ' For example in consideration of the Voluntary action of popular .sympathy in erecting the new wing or department, popular control, or rather the control of contributors or governors might be recognised without it being ; necessarily ', governed by ' a bloodless officialism. In any case a children'! hospital or wing , -to ' the hospital is very urgently required, and

no more becoming or attractive I memorial of the Queen's reign could il be founded. | Oil tlie other hand a Home for Con- J valescsnts appeals very strongly to 5 human sympathy. This is a class of I institution that in others of the colonies • i has beensinguliifly favoured by wealthy <* f people dying and leaving bequests for Jij charitably purposes. It lias been overlooked our case, and if such an iasti- ff tution were started even on a moderate || scale it would be likely to grow by 8 accretion into proportions adequate Wto the requirements of the place. •>! Whether it should be on the shores % of the harbour, or in 6ome in- Hfj land or elevated district, with a m\ more bracing atmosphere than we have 'M on the Auckland isthmus, is open to a S good deal of discussion, proximity oil W the one hand, and more bracing health- IE giving conditions on the other, affording much to be said on either side. That (if either of such institutions, a Children's Hospital or a Convalescents' Home, :J. ; f would admirably serve as a memorial of the record reign, will be admitted by ' v; every one, and it may be hoped that the .inattention of the benevolently disposed vand of the active-minded members of < 1;'?; the community, who are anxious to have - j a permanent memorial of the interest) ' ing occasion, will be given to the sub- ' : |t ject.