FRESH AIR HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17177, 22 October 1923, Page 9

FRESH AIR HOME.

OPENED ON HILLS. Tn delightful weather, and in the presence of many citizens, the Children’s Fresh Air Ilcme on Cashmere Hills was opened on Saturday afternoon. It is a long wooden building, with a northern aspect, high up on the hill above the military sanatorium. Its principal attraction is a magnificent view of the city, the plains, the mountains and the sea. It has been built by the North Canterbury Hospital Board, which lias had the scheme -n mind for about ten years. It is intended for consumptive children and for children who are not consumptive, but who have consumptive parents. Twenty-six children now in the home attended Saturday’s ceremony.

Amongst those present were: Mr H. J. Otley, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board; Mrs Otley. the Mayor (Mr J. A. Flesher), and Mrs Flesher, members of' the board ; Dr T. F. Telford, Medical Officer of Health, and other doctors; Dr G. J. Blackinore, Superintendent of the Consumptive Sanatorium®; Mr AV. S. Wharton, secretary to the board : Mr H. Holland, chairman of the committee that conducted the campaign for funds; Mr C. W. Hervey, honorary secretary of that committee ; Mrs J. C. Holmes, who has taken an active part in work for the home ; and Nurso Maude. Apologies were received for the absence of Bishop Brodie and others. OBJECT OF THE HOME. Mr Otley, speaking from the verandah, said that the movement to erect the building began in 1914 in a suggestion by Sister Rochfort, who had the necessity for it briught under her notice during her work amongst the suffering. Dr Blackmore, who took up the suggestion, was the admitted leader in the fight against consumption in New Zealand. Consumption in these days was the scourge of every civilised nation. It was hoped that it would be successfully fought in that building; that, at least, it would be possible to save children predisposed to the disease. Children who were run down would be fed properly’ and be kept in comfort in the home, and it was believed would be restored to health before they went sent back to their homes. The home had not been opened before because the Government could not give a subsidy during the war. He mentioned about £IO,OOO as the cost, and said that the people of the North Canterbury hospital district ha»d contributed about £4OOO, including interest, and the Government had given £2900. He had 7io doubt that the ratepayers would feel satisfied with the- way in which the money had been spent. Thanking the workers in the movement, Mr Otley specially mentioned Mrs Holmes. “ She has don© a tremendous amount of work for all the institutions up here,” ho said amidst applause.

DR BLACKMORE’S SPEECH. Dr Blackmore said that the home was part of the scheme that led to the building of tho Consumptive Sanatorium about thirteen years ago. The hospital had to come first. The dispensary followed, with Sister Rochfort in charge, and she was the first matron of the Cambridge Sanatorium, the first sanatorium in New Zealand. Realising the necessity for the fresliair home for children she called a meeting of ladies in Christchurch. Mrs T. E. Taylor took the position of leader of tho movement. A committee was formed, and in a few months a campagin was begun. Although Sister Rochfort’s health failed, she insisted upon going on. Later, she went abroad in search of health, but died, a stranger in. a strange land, far from her home and her people. She was a fine, heroic figure, a woman of high ideals, of noble aspirations. She died fighting a foe more formidable and more relentless than the Germans. She died from the very disease she, had fought so valiantly for years on behalf of others. The people of New Zealand justly might feel proud of her, as they felt proud of others who, at that time, gave their lives in defence of liberty. (Applause). Her life and her work were an inspiration : “ she being dead yet speaketh.” Help came also from the late Mr Danvers Hamber. The first suggestion as to how the campaign might successfully be conducted, he believed, came from Mr Hamber. who threw himself into the work with enthusiasm. As he was a newspaper man, the help he gave was invaluable. It was through Mr Hamber’s efforts, probably, that Mr G. D. Greenwood, of Teviotdale, offered twenty acres at Amberley for a fresh air home. The offer had to be declined, but it was a generous one. Mr Holland, then Mayor of Christchurch, first chairman of the Fresh-Air Home Committee, said that he would hare to be a nominal head, but be took off his coat and went into the fray, doing a great deal to make the campaign the success it was. Pupils at the Girls’ High School, at an.y early’ stage. contributed £l2O. (Applause). The Commercial Travellers’ Association took up the work of its own accord, giving up on© great day to it. The people pushed monev on to the commercial travellers, and on that day they raised between £BOO and £9OO. the largest sum raised in a single day for charity in New Zealand up to that time. He also should acknowledge the. help of the newspapers. Christchurch had a good deal to he proud of in its newspapers. They had their differences, but when it came

to wider issues—the welfare of the people and questions of humanity—they stood shoulder to shoulder, and spoke with a united voice. Children, Dr Blackmore. continued, were peculiarly subjected to consumption. It was a house disease, not a disease contracted out of doors. A child came into contact with affected adults. The great danger to children in that respect came from their homes. It was a most unfortunate circumstance, but it was a fact. One half of the cases of consumption diagnosed were children of consumptive parents,

or who had close relatives with whom they came in intimate contact. Although the danger to those children was very great, nothing previously had been done to save them ; there had been no organised effort in any other part of New Zealand. Amongst English speaking people at least there was a determination that it. should not be inevitable that children of con-

sumptive parents must suffer and die from consumption. All those children might not be saved, but it only 10 per cent who developed the disease were saved, that home would he justified. J>r Blackmore added : “ Christchurch is a beautiful city, but to children of consumptive parents it is the City of Destruction. AYc wish to guide them from it. On their young shoulders they hear a heavy burden, not a burden of sin, but a burden of sorrow. AVe hope that when they ascend these hills they will find that their burden has been removed, and that these are the Delectable Mountains. Tragedy is associated with these young lives. There will be more tragedy unless something is done. This home is not

only necessary; it is long overdue. It does not « belong to the Hospital Board ; it belongs to you. to the people of North Canterbury. It is paid for with you/ money : it is designed to j serve you. Don’t, please, go away I and forget it and the young people ir. j it. Do not kill this movement by the i apathy so prevalent in public affairs. | There is a great deal to be done. We j have only begun. It cannot be done J without your help.” OTHER SPEAKERS. J Mr H. Paterson, chairman of the i board's Public Health Committee, said that the board might have to ask the public for more financial help. Dr Blackmore's eloquence and enthusiasm, when the campaign began, inspired the committee. Mr C. W. Hervey, honorary secretary throughout the campaign. gave splendid service. Miss Sliirtcliffe, who b?.d passed away, had helped, also Mr H. R. Smith, treasurer of the fund, Mrs Otley then opened the door with a golden key. and the visitors passed into the building, where there w%re refreshments and music. Messrs Collins and Harman, archiects, planned the building on modern lines. The accommodation at present is limited lo thirty-two. but it may It- increised to sixty or seventy by tf.e add'tion of wings- There are four beds in each ward, which, practically is an open-air sheltei. The diningj room is a particularly bright and sunny i place. There is a wide, comfortable j verandah, on which the children .will j ha.e amp ip room for play.