LETTERS TO LATE MR. SEDDON.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 895, 15 August 1910, Page 6

LETTERS TO LATE MR. SEDDON.

GENESIS OF MATERNITY • '.' HOMES. (By Telourapn.—Press Association.) Wanganul August 13. : An old settler of this, district haa shown.-tho "Herald", some interesting correspondence between himself' and the late ..Premier, Mr. R. J. Seddbn, which go to show that the former was largely instrumental in • initiating the' schemo for the establishment of maternity homes, though his ideas went con-, siderably further than what,' so far,, has been actually -carried out. .; In suggesting the'idea, to Mr. Seddon in 1901, the settler proposed'that hemes' should be established m the principal townships for the use of the wives of back-blocks settlors, and he ; lives in hopes of seeing the . scheme extended to embrace those whom he' : was anxious to assist.' Another suggestion made by this settler about the same time, but not- yet given effect, to, had reference to a schemo for the betterment of old people living in isolated parts. His ideas, as expressed: in his letter to Mr. Sedcion 'some years' ago,- wero to hire or erect homes in large centres that would hold, say, one hundred persons,. with house attendants and cooks. ; These homes to bo carried : on v on the co-operative system, the occupants to pay an equal sum weekly for their maintenance, and also' sufficient to cover expenses and interest on buildings. The. opinion was expressed by the.writer that the schemo could bo carried out for about Ss. or 10s. per week eacb, and old people would be able to live comfortable and social existences. Concluding, the writer said: "There is a veterans' homo for old soldiers, and I opine that, there should be one for the veterans of civilisation, who are even'more deserving thereof than the former, and who could end their days in comfort. I believe. there are a great many who could avail themselves .of it with the aid of their pen- \ sions if these wero raised to 10s, weekly, as proposed, even if they are without other means, and it would enable many who are on' the funds of the charitable aid boards to do without that humiliation."