HOME FOR SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17450, 21 April 1920, Page 8

HOME FOR SOLDIERS.

PERMANENTLY DISABLED.

PABNELL PBOPEBTY BOUGHT.

JOINT COMMITTEE'S PURCHASE. A home for returned soldiers Buffering -from permanent disabilities is to be established tram the surplus funds of the Joint Committee of the Auckland branch of the Red Cross and Order of St. John. This was decided upon yesterday at a meeting of the Joint Committee. The question of the disposal of the funds was discussed at a recent meeting of the Executive i Committee in Wellington, which forwarded a recommendation, adopted by the committee yesterday, under which a property will be acquired forthwith. ■ The property selected is that of Mrs. Sissling, St. Stephen's Avenue, Parnell, consisting of an acre and a-haif of ground on Point Resolution, and a 13-roomed, two-storey house. The position is one of the finest in Auckland, commanding an unsurpassed view of the harbour, and the house, which possesses balconies and wide verandahs, is particularly suited to the needs -of the men for cheerful surroundings and a beautiful outlook. The house is til© - roofed, and electrically lit throughout, and the entire property** has been pronounced by Surgeon-General D. J. McGavin, directorgeneral of medical services, as ideal for its future use. The price paid for the property was £7000, and it is anticipated that a further expenditure of £1000 for minor alterations will be necessary in order to provide for the needs of the establishment. Responsibility for its maintenance will be divided between the Defence Department and the Joint Committee.

Ready for Occupation. In moving the" adoption .of the Executive's recommendation at yesterday's meeting, the chairman, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated that the establishment of the home had been approved by the Minister. The Government, he explained, would provide the trained staff of nurses, medical staff, essential equipment and furnishings, while the Joint Committee, in addition to the purchase of the building, would provide the untrained staff, V.A.D. workers, cooks, and gardeners, and also provide special diet for the patients. General McGavin, who attended the meeting, said he was very glad indeed the matter had been satisfactorily settled, and h© was quite sure the expenditure of the Joint Committee's funds would meet with general approval. The Department was most grateful for the gift of the home to the soldiers, and appreciative of the Joint Committee's action. They could go into occupation at any time; the essential equipment and staff were ready, and all that remained 1© be done was * the adjustment of a few details. There was no immediate urgency, as most of the patients were at present accommodated at North Shore or Rotorua, but no doubt they would like to be removed to the new home as soon as possible. There were 10 men now waiting admission: there was accommodation for 16, and this could be greatly extended. With regard to admission, he bad no doubt the. committee would be willing to admit patients on arrangements with other centres, if accommodation permitted. The only structural alteration that required to be made, in his opinion, was the building of a ramp for the convenience of patients in wheelchairs. The speaker suggested that in order that a full understanding might be arrived at ' a special committee should meet the sister m charge and Colonel Tracey Inglis some time next week, and make a thorough inspection of the premises. The committee adopted this suggestion, the visit being arranged for Thursday morning, April 25.

Provision for Maintenance. Various financial details were discussed by the committee, the treasurer being authorised to pay the amount required in settlement of the purchase. It was decided that, failing its legal vesting in the society, the property be temporarily invested in the names of the committee's three trustees—Messrs. J. H. Gunson, C. J. Tanks, and the Hon. George Fowlds. The question of the investment of the remainder of the funds of the committee, amounting to £50,000, was also discussed, and it was decided that £35,000 should be lodged on deposit for two years, and the remaining £15,000 in three amounts of £5000 for one year. Th© interest on the £35,000, roughly £1400 a year, said Mr. Gunson, would be sufficient to meet the expenses of maintenance.

The question of a name for the home was deferred for consideration. A special vote of thanks was accorded Mr, H. D. Robertson, Auckland delegate to the recent executive meeting, for his able handling of ;he matter. The following Committee of Management for the new home was appointed: Mesdames J. B. Macfarlane, L. Benjamin, Miss J. Murray. Messrs. J. H. Gunsoa, G. Fleming, P. J. Hutchinson, W. Sprang, C. J. Tanks, and th 6 Hon. George Fowlds.

General McGavin's Approval. The proposal to establish a home at Point Resolution was warmly approved yesterday by Surgeon-General D. J. McGavin, director-general of medical services. Such a home, he considered, was an object on which the Patriotic Association's funds could very properly be spent, because it was directly for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers. The site was an excellent one, and the patients would be able to live in pleasant surroundings and enjoy the society of their relatives and friends. Such an institution, he thought, was better in the hands of voluntary societies such as the Red Cross and Order of St. John, and the Patriotic Society, which were able to give the patients a sympathetic attention that a purely military organisation could not easily offer. Another advantage of the home would be that chronic cases living at present in the country might be sent there occasionally for a change of scene.