THE HOSPITAL FUND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 894, 13 August 1910, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL FUND.

When we announced the particulars of, Mr. Hugh Ward's offer to 'the' Wellington public in connection with the Children's Hospital Fund started by Mrs. Wilfokd, 'we'pre l dieted that Mr. Wahd would bo found to have made the hit of the season. This' prediction is abundantly justified by the splendid results that have been. _ achieved. Already there has been raised a sum greater than that which was required by ,tbe original scheme, and very much greater than the sum that, a fortnight ago, even the. most sanguine person could havo hoped l would be subscribed in any reasonable period. The response of tho city'has been "extraordinarily fine and generous, not only with respect to the large total of the offerings, but with respect also to the generality of the spirit of giving. To-day a special effort is to be made to bring the fund to such a. figure as will enablo the provision of a. hospital much .greater than was contaminated before the possibilities of the position were realised. That the public will rise generously to the occasion is beyond rjucstfon, but it may be as well to. point out that everyone who gives his shilling or his half-crown will, owing to the general State subsidy, have benefited the fund by a florin or live shillings. This fact should appeal very strongly h> a community that has at least the averago love of a good bargain. A word of praise is due to the.Mayoli and M.K3. Wii.Fcntp for:- the great energy they have displayed in assisting to gather in the harvest of public bounty. In'all-countries, but especially in Now Zealand, .private" bencvo

lence is a passive thing, and requires a Httlu external uid for'its full manifestation, and Me., and Mrs. WiLFOED have canvassed very hard to secure a liberal response. Wellington would bo failing hi its duty, however, were it not to recognise the very large debt which it owes to Me. Wakd in connection with the hospital. Apart from his libiiral personal contribution and the generous action of his company, nobody can doubt that but foi his attractive and businesslike proposal the work of raising funds would have_ been" almost .as difficult an it has in fact been easy. It is much to bo regretted that some feeling has arisen which has placed many good citizens in a difficult position, but the public will not be disposed to doubt that there is in anybody's heart anything but the warmest goodwill towards the object of the fund. This, however, is a matter that nobody will wish us to dwell upon. Perhaps, when next there is an occasion to call upon the public for an effort like this which has been crowned with so magnificent a success, there may be wanting . the means of providing the initial momentum that has swept the public into the subscription lists in the past ten days, but- there will be left over, we hope, some lessons in the art of giving; and of collecting. In the meantime there is nothing more to be said than that the generous public should do its very best this morning to lift the fund towards the' £5000 that is now regarded as' a possible goal. , ■ .