CARE OF NEEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23276, 20 February 1939, Page 11

CARE OF NEEDY

CONVALESCENT WOMEN A PROPOSED HOME NORTH ISLAND SCHEME EFFORT TO RAISE £BO,OOO A financial appeal is about to be launched to establish a convalescent home for women and for children under six years of age on a farm in the Putaruru district. It is believed that there is a definite need for such ftn institution, and that it would not overlap or conflict with the work of any existing organisation. The scheme is under the patronage of Lady Statham, of Wellington, and the president is Mrs. A. E. Mansford, the Mayoress of Palmerston North. A number of citizens of standing in various North Island centres have been acting as a provisional committee and it is intended to add to their number shortly. An organiser who has canvassed through Hawke's Bay and part of Auckland reports that there are many cases which would benefit from care in suck a home and that the idea is meeting with widespread support. A £17,000 Building

An option has been obtained over a property in the Putaruru district, and it is proposed to build on it at an approximate cost of £17,000 a _ home with 50 beds. Part of the plan is also to train a staff of 10 girls for household duties, so that these might be available to lopk after homes while the mother is having convalescent care and treatment at what is to be known as the Rahiri Home.

It is hoped to provide the necessary finance largely by enlisting 2000 subscribers who would contribute £1 Is annually. They would be allowed to apply to the home for qualified domestics, who would be trained under the supervision of the matron. The farm of 800 acres on which the home is to be situated would be run to assist in the upkeep of the home. The area from which it is intended to take patients "stretches from Levin in the south to the city and suburbs of Auckland.' About 200 doctors in that area have already been communicated with about the scheme. Proposed Charges -

It is intended that for 40 of the beds there shall be a discretionary charge of a week, and that there shall be 10 single rooms where patients in better circumstances can be accommodated at £2 2s . a week. Patients are to be admitted on application by qualified medical practitioners, who < will certify that the patient will benefit by residence and is not suffering from any infectious disease. The board aims at raising a sum of at least £30,000 by public subscription. The promoters of the scheme anticipate that it will materially assist the work of hospitals and kindred organisations. The plan will be discussed in detail at a public meeting to be held in the Takapuna Borough Council Chambers to-morrow evening, and a further meeting will be held in the Auckland Chamber of Commerce toward the end of next month.