THE PATIENTS AND PRISONERS’ AID SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22285, 11 June 1934, Page 12

THE PATIENTS AND PRISONERS’ AID SOCIETY

m ini' I'.imoK Siu, —On two occasions during last month when travelling to Seaeliff to visit the patients at the Mental Hospital, T went through the train aiul mentioned, as I passed through the carriages, that newspapers and other reading matter would be acceptable and would be delivered by me to the institution for the use of the patients. There was a ready response and on both occasions 1 left the station platform with a bundle of newspapers under my arm and received a good welcome when I arrived with my parcel at the institution. This leads me to the conclusion that many folk are glad of an opportunity to pass on their newspapers and other reading matter if the way is made easy.

Many of your readers perhaps arc not aware that nil newspapers sent in single copies addressed to mental hospitals arc sent post free, and I wish to make it clear that this is the ease. It would be an easy matter for many kindly disposed folk after having read their newspaper to wrap it np and address it to the Mental Hospital, either at Waitati or at Seaeliff. Of course the greater number of patients are at Seaeliff. The fact that a newspaper is a day old does not make it any the loss acceptable, and illustrated papers, no matter what date, arc eagerly scanned and magazines are looked

upon as a luxury. Often we have inquiries for such papers as the British Weekly, the Christian, and the Cristian Herald, etc. These institutions always share in all books and other reading matter left at our office, and, if notified, we are willing to collect parcelg at any a,ddress given. While I am writing may I state that we are in urgent need of a single bed or a stretcher for a needy patient? Leftofl clothing, boots and shoes are always in demand, and there is a shortage with us at present. We are confident that there will ba a ready response to this appeal.—l am, etc., Alex. Steven, Agent, Patients and Prisoners’ Aid , , Society. 21 Crawford street, June 8.