THE CONVALESCENT HOME.

NZ Truth, Issue 137, 1 February 1908, Page 4

THE CONVALESCENT HOME.

What m the name of all that is chai.-ita.ble is the Convalescent Home that towers over Oriental Bay m existence for? "Truth" asks the question out of more than ordinary curiosity, and it at the same time directs public attention to the peculiar way m which this concern is conducted. Like most other public charitable institutions of its sort, it is ruled by a parcel of "charitable" women, who trade on their philanthropic proclivities so long as it doesn't touch their own pockets. These charity-mongers ail pose m the limelight of publicity, but when it comes to dealing with sick, and, perhaps, indigent, individuals, these tough termagants are like wrought iron. In their dealings with the sick they are hard and cold directors, but when the newspaper reporter hoyes m sight they are the acme of amiability, the personification of everything Christian and charitable. This Convalescent Home is run by a matron, who has an assistant, and it was lute-^ ly decided to give the matron a holiday and because the matron was holidaying it was deemed necessary that no male invalids should be taken in 'no •matter how sad and sorry their plight. Recently an individual discharged from the Wellington Hospital was recommended for admission fto the Convalescent Home, and was informed that there -was a vacancy. He had had jv very bad time of it for four months, and a couple of weeks' spell at the Home that overlooks the Bay would have set him on his feet. Having been assured that he would 'be admitted, it next came as a great shock ' to him' to learn that the matron was not prepared to admit him, and, moreover, it is alleged that some other patient carried some sort of a tale to the matron- concerning something this particular individual is said to have given utterance to and which he strongly denies. Anyhow, he was not admitted to the Home, and the next thing he learns is that the matron is having a holiday, that a patient is put m charge of the concern, and that the old women who run the institution for the public have decreed that no male patients are to be admitted pending the matron's absence. All the while. the man is a cripple, and will not be properly well for months to come, whereas had he proper treatment at a Convalescent Home he would soon be set up. This Convalesi cent Home seemingly requires to be conducted ou more up-to-date lines.