HOSPITAL SATURDAY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 25

HOSPITAL SATURDAY ASSOCIATION.

The annual report states that the year just concluded must be considered one unique in tho association’s history. At our last annual meeting the proportion of the collection allotted to each beneficiary was altered to allow of the association giving a quarter of the collection to tho Belgian Fund. Everyone entered into the work wholeheartedly, and as a result the magnificent sum of £2400 was raised—viz., £TiOO on Hospital Saturday, November 28, 1914, and £7OO for tho Wounded Soldiers’ Fund on July 5, 1915. It is felt that the residents of both town and country must recognise the excellent work tho beneficiaries connected with the association are carrying on, and everyone should bo prepared to make some small sacrifice to assist these worthy institutions. As has been pointed out before, if ever3 r on< would contribute the modest sura of 4d, it would be sufficient to enable tho association to hand to each institution sufficient funds for carrying on their work. Your committee regrets that the association’s work in some country districts has not been taken up with the enthusiasm of former years. We are. however, greatly indebted to those collectors in the country districts who so readily came to the association’s assistance, and have to congratulate them on the excellent results obtained, and wo trust that in the coming year wo shall be able to obtain willing workers in every country district. The noble band of lady collectors by their indefatigable zeal on Hospital Saturday (November 28, 1914), eclipsed all previous records by collecting tho excellent sum of £1317 in the city and suburbs. This undoubtedly was a wonderful effort. From tho country districts the very satisfactory amount of £295 9s 2d was collected. This is all tho more creditable seeing that in some districts from which we have in tho past received very satisfatcory amounts nothing at all was received, owing to the association being unable to arrange for anyone to undertake the work in these districts. It is hoped in tho coming year that we shall be more successful in th s direction. Lists were again sent to tho various schools, and by this means the vciy handsome sum of £59 0s was obtained. Collection boxes were again placed in tho hotels, and the sum of £34 6s 2d was obtained from this source. The Hospital Saturday Association has now been in existence for 10 years and it can look back, with pride to the following benefits secured for the Dunedin Hospital:—The building and equipment of the new out-patiente’ department at a cost of about £2000; the purchase and fitting up of tho new X-ray plant and room, at a cost of about £800; tire fitting up and furnishing of a casualty reception and examination room, and a wait.ng room for relatives of patients, etc., and the balconies provided by the association, at a cost of about £2085 17s (including tho Government subsidy of 24s in the £), for the openair treatment of chronic consumptives and pulmonary patients. In all, your association has handed to the Hospital £4812, including £7OO collected in 1905 for Hosxiital extension. This amount, with the statutory subsidy of 24s in the £, amounts to £10,586. The association arranged a collection for our Wounded Soldiers’ Fund on July 3, tho collectors again entering heartily into this work, and as a result the sum of £&69 11s 9d was handed to the above fund. An art union of pictures, etc., in aid of the Belgian Doctors’ Fund, was started, but, owing to the work and interest of tho Queen Carnival for the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, has been extended till March next. The association asks for the public’s whole-hearted support. By invitation of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, your committee sent delegates to a meeting to discuss the establishment of an extended district nursing system. After consideration the matter was postponed for further information. No more has been heard of the proposal. Your committee is confident that the association is carrying on an excellent work, and that it has the whole-hearted sympathy of the general public, as has been shown in th« past by the generous response given to appeal made by the association. The public can rest assured that all the beneficiaries are doing good work, and that tho money subscribed on Hospital Saturday is wisely spent, and is the means of _ bringing sunshine and comfort into the lives of many.