PATIENTS GONE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 8

PATIENTS GONE

EVELYN FIRTH. HOME. PLANS FOR FUTURE USE ANNOUNCEMENT AWAITED After 21 years' use by ex-servicemen of the last war, the Evelyn Firth Home ended the first stage of its career yesterday. The last of the patients left on Thursday and the staff departed on Saturday, with the exception of the matron, Miss R. Brayshaw, and one sister, who are remaining in residence for the present. Of 14 patients who were in the home at the beginning of November, only three were permanently disabled men of the class for whom the home was established. Suitable arrangements have been made for the accommodation of these men, for whom the Health Department has accepted full responsibility. One of them, Mr. C. W. Robinson, was an inmate from the opening day in 1920. Oiler by Committee Although the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser, recently stated definitely that the home would not be permanently closed, but would be used for the benefit of ex-servicemen of the present war, details of the scheme have not yet been made public and an official announcement is awaited. The property at Point Resolution and an endowment fund of £40,000 are held by an Auckland committee representing the joint organisation of the New Zealand Refl Cross and Order of St. John which was set up during the last war. The committee has offered to transfer the property to the National Patriotic Fund Boarcl # or any other appropriate administration. The committee's funds, however, will be retained for the benefit of ex-servicemen of the last war. Suggestion tox Use Various conferences on the subject have been held in Auckland and Wellington, and among the proposals made is one that the property shall be purchased bv the Dominion joint council of the Red Cro»s and Order of St. John with funds held by the National Patriotic Fund Board for the benefit of sick and wounded ! ex-servicemen. Tinder this plan the home would be administered by the Auckland committee of the joint organisation as_ a transition home for disabled ex-service-men who are convalescent after treatment in the Auckland military hospital, who are attending there for outpatient treatment only, or who for any other reason are temporarily in need of accommodation with some nursing care. It has been made clear that the militarv convalescent home which is to be built at Bombay is intended solely for soldiers requiring treatment to fit them for service, and not for discharged exservicemen.