SWEET CHARITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 32, 1 November 1907, Page 8

SWEET CHARITY.

HOSPITAL SATURDAY MOVEMENT SOME HINTS FROM SYDNEY. Charity is the sweetest and gentlest of all the virtues, and oho touch of its pitying hand makes tho whole world kin. Nowhoro is its ministering influence more potent for good than in the field for hospital work. Public hospitals are, and always will bo, a necessity—until the millenium arrives, at any rate—and, simultaneous with tho need for thoso healing institutions, is the need for money. It is the duty of every citizen to support them, as far as his means permit, and, further, it ia to his interest that they should be. maintained in tho highest possible state o£ efficiency. New Zealand, it is good to note, has not shirked its responsibilities, and one outward and convincing proof of this is tho growth of the Hospital Saturday movement. Wellington, for some time past, lias had its annual day dedicated t&- Sweet Charity, which is a far more bencficout and sensible holy day than thc& degenerate holidays nominally devoted to the memory of some mythical or questionable saint. But though much good work has been done, thero is room for considerable development in tho movement, though this is in no way meant as a slur on tho local band of generous helpers. This city has not 'had the experience of biggor and wider centros, and there are wrinkles to bo learned. The Sydney Saturday. It is to suggest a few bints that this article briefly sketches the Hospital Saturday campaign in Sydney. One'feature of the movement that grips attention is the splendid organisation. Not a detail seems to bo overlooked; the plan of operations is mapped out' as carefully as the movements a groat campaign. The Hospital Saturday Fund of Now South Wales is tho name of the Association, and it; was registered under the Companies Act in 1894 —a year after its inception. It is managed by a Board of thirty members and eight honorary officers, ■ all of whom are elected annually. The income and property can be applied only to aid the medical charities, and the qualifications for membership arc: (a) An-annual, subscription, of £1; (b) any friendly or.trades society, workmens' club or institute, or any five persons or more in one employment, subscribing together not less than £1 per annum, are entitled to elect a delegate who becomes a member of the Association without further payment; (c) any registered holder of a collection box, card, or stand, who collects.not less than £5 in any one-year; (d) tho hou. secretary of a suburban committee; (e) any porson elected by resolution of the Board for services advantageous to tho Association, may become" a member without.-pay-mont. Therefore, those.who aro instrumental in raising the. money aro eligible to have a voice, in its distribution. Tho object's of the Association; are thus-summarised in the report for last year:—" The 'Hospital Saturday Fund is an association of men and women who makeit their business to interest the peoplo generally in tho welfare of tho medical charities, and to organise continuous collections every year for their sup-, port. It is especially intended to afford to wage earners and others who cannot, supscribo large, amounts an opportunity of contributing small sums; ranging from one penny per week and upwards, according to their means, weekly, or at such other short intorvals of time as may be more convenient. The work is not merely a collection on one day of tho year, as tho name Hospital Sat-' urday .leads'many people to suppose, but it involves constant effort to obtain funds for the medical charities. To initiate regular, indoor collections, meetings of tho employees of business firms are arrangeU-'- by-i'ono organiser, who explains tho movement, solicits their aid, and takes their decision byvoto. .That being favourable, they forthwith appoint ono or moro of their number as delegato, who is furnished with suitable cards on which to record all .contributions received against names of contributors. ■ No collectors aro paid.. In Sydney and the suburbs committees aro appointed which arrange for personal visits to householders at regular periods for subscriptions, or, when . preferred; place collection boxes or cards with those: whom they are able to interest in the movemoiit, and in ,othor .ways assist ,in raising revenue, and report to the Board. On one day every year (usually the first Saturday in May) there is a public demonstration, which 'takes the' form of a great outdoor collection throughout Sydney and suburbs, and on or ■ just before that day all the moneys outstanding that have been V.collected, during the previous twelve months are, paid into tho bank account of the Fund, together with'the proceeds of the street collection. It will be seen that there is nothing left to chance. An intelligent system is observed throughout, and the results, are worth the trouble. Tho recoipts for; 1906 . .totalled £5320 2s. 4d., collected at a cost of only 7.53 per cent. ' . .. . The Fair Invaders. On Hospital Saturday, the city is beseigecl by an army of fair invaders. But though, fair, they are'formidable. They are-detor-. mined, and there'is no escaping;.the battery of bright eyes and blandishments. .Armed with a collecting bos,.a protty little badge of office, arid a seductive smile, they entrench themselves in'the highways and byways, am attack maiijin his most vulnerable spot; and few there arc who run tho gauntlet unscathed. ' ■ ; .' '. ,; Before tho fray commences,-■ the city>'anu suburbs arc divided.-into numbered sections, and allotted among the legions'of.'the- fair. - The boxes, numbered consecutively, l lire issued three or if our days' in advance; and registered to the ladios in? charge of the different sections, who accept responsibility for each box, and for their own information record the disposition of boxes to their assistants; -One feature of the operations that is to be commended, is'that children are on no account permitted to collect. Tim Bank of New South Wales undertakes-all- banking arrangements.. '; '. A useful foature is , the - commissariat department. Caterers and hotel. 1 proprietors are invited to help in a practical form, and they respond generously. Refreshment, ticket's are issued,' entitling the collectors to meals during tho day free of charge, and this makes a valuable contribution to the movement, as'- it 'prevents disorganisation, the ladies not having to leave their own sections until operations are concluded. Ferry boat proprietors aro also called upon, and in most cases they allow the collectors to travel free and collect on ferry steamers. Circulars are sent to all non-subscribing employees at different establishments every year, pointing but the value and objects of the movement, and by this means the Association is brought into direct touch with that section of the community which must, of necessity, benefit most from the -hospitals/ The value/of complete and intelligent organisation, as adopted "by tho Sydney Association, is potent, and if there are any hints in the. foregoing outline tlfat can bo utilised locally, the article will have been well worth thu; space. Wo are indebted to Mr. John J. Cohen, M.L.A., lion, general .secretary of the Hospital Saturday Fund of Now South Wales, for the details drawn upon, and to Mr. Hugo Herman, of Wellington, through whom ,the information was forwarded to a representative, of. Tub Dominion.