THE CHILDREN'S WARD.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 12975, 14 December 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE CHILDREN'S WARD.

(From "The.Colpniet," Nov. 19.) The Mayoress is to be commended for having so promptly shown a practical interest in the proposal to erect a children's ward at the Public Hospital. The provision of this accommodation appears to be urgently necessary, and wo know of no direction in whieff public philanthropy could more properly be applied. It has been said that the extent to which in New Zealand the alleviation of suffering and distress has been relegated to the State will have the effect to a large * extent of drying up the wells of private charity. If that tendency is to be expected as a result of our system of State benevolence, it has not obtruded itself yet, as there is abundance of proof whenever an appeal is made for funds for such'purposes as the present. A striking illustration of this fact was afforded a few months, ago in Wellington, wh&n ib© puKio generosity knew no bounds in its response to a.n appeal of a similar nature to that which is now being made to the people of thisjdjisjrict. Itis not too much to expect &atihe Nelson public will be equally enthusiastic in increasing •the efficiency of their Hospital! for tho treatment of ailing children. The meeting of ladies convened by fste Mayoress yesterday took very practical steps to further the object, and their efforts must command hearty support throughout the district. The amount which it will be necessary to raise by subscriptions, probably noh more than £300, should present no difficulties, and we anticipate that the committee will early be in- a position to close the lists, and hand to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards a sum sufficient, with the Government subsidy, to erect and equip a children's ! ward which will be a creditable addition to the Nelson Hospital.