HILL JACK HOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 6

HILL JACK HOME

Sir.—l have heard with considerable surprise that the Hill Jack Children’s Home is to be converted into a maternity hospital. If this is true—and I find it hard to believe—the wishes of the testators are ta be ignored, and an entirely different use to be made of the bequest. I had thought there were legal safeguards rendering such a proceeding impossible, but apparently this is not so. Surely a vital principle is involved here, and public confidence will Be rudely shaken. I myself am filled with .uneasiness. I also had hoped to leave rfioney "to help children, though my Idea was different. A large number of children in institutions have one parent living. Realising that the worst disaster that can befall a child is to be uprooted from his home, I had planned to leave a modest fund to supplement the income (above the inadequate family benefits) of widowed parents, thereby preventing at least a few children from being brought up in the artificial atmosphere of institutional life, for I hold that to save even a few good homes from disruption would be a valuable contribution to social health. But what security now that my wishes would be carried out? Apparently none. But at least I could come back and haunt the erring trustees, so If they don’t believe in ghosts now, they would then!—l am, etc. . r’i ; . . Integrity.

[The secretary of the Children's Rest Homes, Mr S. Dunkley, informs the Daily Times that the correspondent is misinformed and the wishes of the testators have been ignored in no respect. 7 If further information is 'required the correspondent is invited by Mr Dunkley to call at his office for a detailed explanation.—Ed., 0.D.T.1i }‘—'v •