KNOX HOME FINANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 14

KNOX HOME FINANCES.

INSUFFICIENCY OF. REVENUE. REQUEST FOR STATE GRANT. Insufficiency of revenue to meet all the necessary maintenance costs at the Knox Homo for Incurables was a position exElaincd to the Minister of Health, . the [on. A. J. Stallworthy, when he visited the home on Saturday. The Minister expressed a hope that it would be possible to provide some assistance next year. Tho Knox Home, which is situated near Mount Wellington, was erected during the early years of the Great War. In addition to meeting the capital cost, £26,000, the Knox bequest included in-terest-bearing investments which provide the major portion of the administration expenses. An attached area of 28 acres provides milk, fruit and vegetables for the institution, and an additional area is leased to market gardeners. At present there are 52 patients in the home, 23 of them being women, and accommodation is available for an additional 12 male patients. Tho matron has a staff of 12 nurses. Sir Edwin Mitclielson, on behalf of the board of trustees, asked the Minister for a re-instatement of a £SOO grant formerly paid by the Government to assist in meeting the maintenance costs. Shortage of finance had made it impossible during recent years to sustain a satisfactory standard of maintenance so far as the buildings were concerned. Sir Edwin pointed out that tho home saved the Government quite a large sum of money. ; Mr. Stallworthy said there was no doubt as to tho quality or the quantity of tho valuable work being done by the institution. However, he regretted to say that, owing to the strictest economy having to be exercised this year to keep tho essential activities of the Health Department itself withiiy the limits of its financial allocation, it would bo impossible to provide tho grant asked for. Ho hoped It would be possible to give some assistance next year. • , After inspecting the institution and meeting tho patients, the Minister complimented fitie matron and the # trustees upon tho pervading homely spirit, and t.lio comfort and cheorfulness of tho patients.