MATERNITY HOMES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2083, 8 January 1908, Page 1

MATERNITY HOMES

A QUESTION OE POLICY

(.Special to Times.) n ELLING J UA, Jim. i. A question involving a point oi consiuerablo interest cioppeu .up at a meeting o) the local 'Benevolent llistiLUiion. trie-Lces tins al leruuon. Ii appeared iiiai Micro had oeen a J uge increase ol laio in the, number ot indigent people and chrome, mvalius in Lho local home for old men and women. joining lho course oi the discussion it was mentioned thut maternity cases in which the question ot illegitimacy is mvolveu aie sometnne.j ueatt with in Lite home, and a trustees asked it there was no way ol getting rid of those charges on the institution. lho Chairman: We have a resolution on tiio books at Lho present time Unit no more of these cases will be taken, but the fact is simply this: IJie balvution Army will not take "second" and “third ’ oases. Mr. D. Robertson: lam quite sure that bt. Helen's Hospital is the proper place for those cases. To make a maternity home of an old men’s institution is simply ridiculous. The Government says, ■-‘Jh.ee p your crad--rW'Tull,-' auddit Sfc. iltdeh/i> there is proper equipment of doctois anti nurses, and still ttieso cases are forced on us. -Mr. l’eurco: Could wo not make further representations on tiro matt or ? The Chairman: Would it be wise after the repeated- decimation, we have had from tho Government on the matter? Mr. J.tobertson: Blit changes have come about since thou. There is a new inspector now. Dr. Valintino may be prepared to do something, if the Government does not want tlie.se women to be associated with others at St. Helen’s, then Jet the Government build a separate wing. After some further discussion the Board agreed to wait on Dr. Valintino in a body to discuss tho whole question with him. Tho result of this interview should be interesting. It- is well known that -Mrs. Grace Neil, who was the originator oi the St. Helen’s Hospital idea, was strongly opposed to -allowing women of doubtful character a place in such homes, and in this she was strongly supported by the late Mr. Scdilon.