HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2575, 9 August 1909, Page 3

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

.MENISTERIAL STATEMENT,

I■ i n If it Mss Association I NAPIER, Auugst 7

' ’he Hon. G. Fowlds this afternoon opened the Williams chrpnic ward and Nurses- home buildings, which cost £12.000, erected without a penny of assisionod from rates. Mr. J. N. William, started the movement with a donation of a thousand p.mnds, and Stoke ’ trustees gave £SOOO. which, with moneys raised by entertainments, etc., and subsidised by the Government, provided the balance. The buildings are sp erididly situated on the site of the o d Refuge, commanding a magnificent view of the bay. 51.. W. Shrimpton, chairman of the Hospital Trustees, in his introductory speech said that the erection of a ward for chronic sufferers was due to the generosity of Mr. J. N. Williams, who had made a donation pf £IOOO for the purpose'. He concluded by presenting the Minister with a miniature gold key as a souvenir of the occasion. Tine Hon. G. Eowlds returned thanks for the memento, and went on to say that he was delighted to be present to say a word of encouragement and supnort to the solf-reliance that had been shown in connection with the buildings about to be opened. He was gad to have the opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the generosity which had made the opening possible without anything in the way of a special grant from the Government. He would be only too pleased if all such buildings could be dealt with on a basis of subsidy and subsidy alone. If the people of a locality wore prepared to provide the cost of such buildings, it was a pretty sure guarantee that the buildings were required, and the Government could give their subsidy without any fear of wasto or extravagance. Mr Eowlds added that Napier was exceedingly fortunate in the generosity of the people of the district in connection with hospital matters. In addition to Mr. Williams’ handsome donation, Mr. Shrimpton had generously given £lO w for the erection, of the chronic ward. The Minister proceeded to say that there had been lately considerable discussion as to dealing with hospitals and charitable aid. He had given the matter his very closest attention with a view to introducing legislation to bring about some improvement in existing methods. One of his proposals was to amalgamate the bodies controlling hospitals, charitable aid institutions, and what were now known as separate institutions. By so doing ho believed they would get more efficiency with less danger of overlapping and a satisfactory system of dealing with genuine eases of need without demoralising, the community. He hoped the Bill would be dealt with next session. He declared the buildings open amidst loud applause. Speeches were also made by Mr. _C. H. Granby, ex-chairman of the Hospital Trustees, and Mr.- J. Vigor Brown, M.P., who made reference to the donation of £SOOO received by the Trustees from the Stokes bequest.