PATIENTS AND PRISONERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25940, 5 September 1945, Page 8

PATIENTS AND PRISONERS

MONTHLY MEETING OF AID SOCIETY The monthly meeting of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society was held yesterday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs W. Downie Stewart (in the chair), H. L. Gibson, C. J. Wood, T. Somerville, E. North, J. Taylor, and Mrs C. O. Mathias. Accounts amounting to £45 18s were passed for payment. The society’s agent (Mr A, Steven) reEorted as follows for the month ended eptember 4:— Prison Work.—Visits were made to the local lock-up. and cases requiring assistance received attention. At present there is quite a number of families (prisoners’ dependents) receiving supplementary help. Mental Hospital.—Seacliff, Orokonui Home, and Cherry Farm were all visited during the month. Literature was supplied, and the usual church services were conducted Arrangements were made by the superintendent and staff for the patients to celebrate when the news came that hostilities had ceased. The effort was greatly enjoyed, and the patients entered heartily into the proceedings. The new building for the male patients at Orokonui Home is now well advanced, and when completed will be a great improvement on the old building, recently demolished. Very shortly the main building at Seacliff will have a changed appearance, as the tower is being dismantled, and other alterations are being made. Wakari Hospital and Pleasant Valley Sanatorium.—The patients at Wakari and at Pleasant Valley were not left out of the peace celebrations. Some who were well enough were granted leave to see the procession in Dunedin. At Wakari the patients were visited and entertained on the Thursday by Andy's Dance Band, and on Friday by the employees of Messrs Ross and Glendining, who staged their wonderful display depicting the United Nations, combined services, etc., which had already attracted so much attention and favourable comment in the city. It

was certainly a kindly gesture on the part of the organisers and the employees. At Pleasant Valley the good people at Palmerston took their peace demonstration procession, headed by the Palmerston Pipe Band, right out to the sanatorium and gave the patients an opportunity to enter into the celebrations. Duredin Hospital.—Visiting work was carried out, and from the female wards 12 patients were transferred to the society's convalescent home at Warrington. Choirs were in attendance, and song services were conducted in all the wards. The following were the choirs assisting: Hanover Street Baptist, First Church, Knox Church, St. Andrew Street Church of Christ, United Congregational, and choirs conducted by Miss E. Logie, Miss Barron, and Mr S. Lawn. James Powell Convalescent Home.— Seventeen patients were admitted in August. They enjoyed and benefited by their stay.