FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 18

FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.

SPEECH BY SIR J. G. WARD.

OPENTKG OF AN ANNEXE.

(From Ouh Own Cobresfondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 24. The formal opening of the consumption annexe to the New Plymouth Hospital was performed, by Sir J. G. Ward, Minister of Public Health, to-day. There was a very large and representative gathering of the public, including Messrs E. M. Smith, Jeni nings, and Liawrv, M.HT.R.'s, and the Hon. | T. Kellj-, M.L.a Sir Joseph Wart), who was received with lend applause, in declaring the institution open, said: To take a hand in the great war we tre waging against consumption is a privilege indeed ; but to have been the first to adopt tha suggestion that each district should look after its own sick and grant to the .sufferer, poor in purse as well as in health, an opportunity of tiyiug what is now recognised by all experts as the best treatment of the fell disease is surely some- . thing to be proud of. In thes© days of incessant demands on the central exchequer it is indeed a pleasure to find a community taking the lead in what may truly be j termed helping itself. The example set in I this city has been followed in. others, notably ] Nelson and Wellington. - Apart from the blessings which come frVm self-denia], charity, we are told by the Great Master, blesses him that gives not kes than him •that receives. The fact that the annexe has risen by reason of your- goodness of | heart creates a local patriotism and interest in it which is> sometimes lacking towards an institution wholly supported by the State. It is a matter for the utmost congratulation that the sum of no less than £300 has been subscribed ia shillings, showing, that what might be termed the poorer- classes have taken an active part in connection with the institution. The- shelters- have been built on the most approvo-i plan, and will, I am certain, bring- health and hope to many an aching heart. — fAjjola/uee.) The campaign in which we. are- taking a part is one which, is being waged- over all the civilised world, for it is fa&fc coming to be realised that not only is consumption one of the greatest- devastators oorf r the race, hut, at the same time, a veary preventable disease. The deaths from tuberculosis in En&land and Wales are- still over 60.000 a year, and throughout Europe it. is estimated ■ that the annual loss from this scourge j amounts to a- million lives; or 400 millions sterling, calculating the- vahie of a. life on the lowest economical basis, irrespective cf the- hardship and suffering entailed. In the' United. States and Canada, tuberculosis, is equally prevalent, . and- costs - the United States, on the same basis alone, 66 millions jof money, a year. Another thing to be remembered is that phthisis, the- commonest form that the ■ disease takes, seizes- the majo.rity- oi its- victims- in- the, flower of youth and the 1 prime of, life, when the working ! capacity, and all other powers should be ,at-the higihest. It" can be seen; therefore. •,thatc we are taking jjai-t in, a- Godly wary a ,war which, knows no creed, saver thai of Jove to/ one's neighbour and oneself, and *that all clashes, irrespective, oi any feeling, have joined together to. promote the welfare of humanity. While, as L said before, the completion of this building must bring; hone- to> some poor, suffering.-, souls now afflioted. it must not be- forgotteai that 1 in saving them we are saving, ourseh'es. The guineas you have givon towards this objectmay rightly bo looked upon a*. an insurance against the disease itself. The Chief Health Offloar and his assistant (Dr Valintine) will doubtless have an opportunity of- going into the scientific side of the matter; but I am informed that, the main channel thraugh which the diseawi is spread is- by, means of. | what is ooughed tin by the sufferer. L am also informed that, provided care is exercised and that th-e spit is burnt, no danger can result from contact. Lam glad to be able to give this- assurance, all the more so because- all right-thinking, fathers and mothers naturally fear for- theirchildren. if not for themselves, when it is proposed to erect these shelt^-s foj consumptives. There- have been requesis more than oaice, more than twice, that the Ciojiernment shouli set up. another institution like that excellent sanatorium at Cambridge.. I have steadfastly set my face against that at least for the present. So long as we find tho people playing tile same- generous part that you have done there is no need to en the score -of suffering humanity, because I am certain that patients will receive in these annexes at the hands* of the skilful medioai meti of Now Plymouth, treatment which will leave little room for couimaint. — (Applause.) TJi&re is another reason, and that is of finance. If I mention money or economy m respect to such a matter as sickness, or, may be, death, nle^e do not mistake me. The present vJoyeramcnt of New Zealand has never considered money when it has been for safeguarding the

health of the community or the welfare of the people. But lam convinced! from a careful study of the question that in this system of annexes attached to already established hospitals is to be found not only the most economical, but 1 the best method of dealing with this momentous question. By carrying out this system we shall be able to cop© with the enemy at once in the best and most acceptable manner. — (Applause.) I have said on several occasions, and I repeat it now, that it would be unfair to dump down on any specifio community all or nearly all of tho sufferers from this disease. I think that every hospital area should look after its own sick in this particular instance. In tho present s*ate of public opinion it cannot be denied that to placard a place or town as being peopled in any large degree by people suffering from consumption has theeffect of lowering it in the estimation of intending settlers. So strongly do I feel this that I have resented on several occasions the expressed d-esire o£ some districts to combine unless all parties were in absolute agreement. Yba may therefore rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, that your generous efforts in setting up these open-air shelters will not result in your being inundated by sick, from other districts. — (Applause.) I shall resist as far as the law permits me the importation of the outside sick and_ J. shall ask all other districts that z-equisition me to break this salutary rule to look at the self-sacrifice of Taranaki, and ask them to go and do likewise. — (Applause.) Towards this noble aim the lesid-ents of Taranaki have dona much, and the Government haa also done something-. We have &et up at eoneiderj able expense what is described by all who have seen it as one of the finest sanatoria in the world, named Te Raikato. near Cambridge, and in addition to that it must be borne in mind that, as I have already said, for every pound you have placed on the altar of, common humanity we have given 245. In connection, with the splendid work that Taranaki has done I should liko to add a tribute of prais& to Dr Valintine. Though he now resides in Welington, for zhany years ho lived in your, midst, and gained the respect md goodwill of all who knew him, and it was natural in this great work that he should have actively associ- ■ ated himself with the- residents of Tara*- ' naki. He has gone whole-heartedly- into the matter, and is deserving of aIL praise. — (Applause.) I am sure; you will all join ' with me in congratulating, not only him, but his Worship the Mayor, who has devoted- a- large amount of time and work, to this object, and all those ladies and" • gentlemen, who haye done so much work - towards the upliftinjj of humanity- Particularly do- I refer to Mr George, ths secretary;, and Mr Eisoh. chairman of the>Hospital Board. I. desire also to place, on i record my recognition oL the work, of thoCliief Health Officer, Dr Mason. fe He. has in season and" out of season; by. voice andt. ' pen, done his utmost to-,jpn.nreess- on our. ' colonists the. importance op stamping, out: ' this terrible scourge, and when, we have two such enthusiasts- occupy-in g the chief, positions in the Health Department, strongly 'supported, by the British Medical Associa- ■ tion, I think it is. only right for me to Estate, as Minister- in charge, that nothing: ' will be left undone on the part of th-et • State to- assist in_ the development of this • area* movement, and you may/ rest, assured i that; every, pound- subscribed by, you-, towards - 'these- annexes will be supplemented- by th© i Government' by 245. E may Her© mentionthat, inquiry: into the deaths of members'of friendly, societies • throughout tbe colony, has' shown that in one case out. of every seven the- oanss of death has been tuberculosis: and it might, be- worth the consideration- oft the members- of- the friendlysooieties whether they, should' not combine 1 , and , take? united action to stem the inroads of. a disaase that is- accounting for so largea proportion of lhe # members' who pass away; by establishing a- consumptive home for members of friendly societies- alone. W.hen I last spoke on this subject: in th&--rorth I. advocated the formation of' an anticaEsumptivp l eague throuejiout the colony, and. his "Excellei»cy the Governor, then expressed himself as willing and glad to aceep-fc-tke presidency- of such a league. Mnchhas already been done to create a- healthy pul-lio opinion in this direction, and Tararaki has shown its earnestness in a- mo** practical way. I£ taken- up as it will be all over the colony, it must afford to the sufferers from this dis&ase not only- a feeling, of hope, but an actual means of relief, ond then of perfect reeov-erv. and surely: there is- no batter work in which people of all classas without distinction of any- sort, can -engager than one which will make our bright islands brighter and happier still.— (Loud applaais*.)<