“ FALSE ECONOMY.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16641, 25 January 1922, Page 7

“ FALSE ECONOMY.”

DISTRICT NURSES’ GRANT TO BE WITHDRAWN. That the Christchurch District Nursing Association’s grant from th© Government will be withdrawn at th© end of the current financial year was notified to to-day's meeting of tli© North Canterbury Hospital Board. A'igorous opposition to the proposal was expressed by members of the board, and embodied in a motion. Air Leadley said he thought they should make a vigorous protest against withdrawal of the grant. They all knew the splendid work done by Nurse Alaude arid her staff during and since the influenza epidemic. The Government was urging th© necessity of preventive measures against plague, yet had the retrenchment fever so badly that they wanted to curtail a service so essential to the health of the community. Mrs IT. F. Herbert supported Air Leadley’s remarks, saying that a result th© opposite of retrenchment would be effected if the proposed “ economy ” were carried out. Tho association had been doing splendid work, and it would be disastrous to Christchurch if their services were discontinued.

The deputy-chairman (Air H. -I. Otley) said that th© secretary had written asking the Government to reconsider the decision. Air Leadley said that a letter was altogether insufficient. Dr P. C. Fenwick said th© proposal was false economy. If Iho women patrols were cut out, for instance, a few thousand pounds more would have to be spent- in treatment o! gonorrhea. The Rev J. K. Archer: Tlie. remedy is not to get rid of tho association, but of the Government (laughter). He said ho regarded the association as an extension of the hospital, and it would be lamentable, if their work was stopped or curtailed. Tt was decided on Air Leadley’s motion : “ That a protest be forwarded to the Government against th© withdrawal of the Government subsidy to tho Christchurch District Nurses’ Association. and also against retrenchment applied to the Health Department by th© dismissal of public health patrols ; further, that th© secretary communicate with other local bodies in Christchurcn requesting them to co-operate with the board in forwarding a vigorous protest to the Government against withdrawal of the Government subsidy to tho association.”