IF HE WERE EIGHTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 176, 12 August 1937, Page 8

IF HE WERE EIGHTY

Our Own Correspondent)

Wouldn't Go To Dannevirke

(From

WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. "If I were eighty, I wouldn't go to Dannevirke," stated Mr D. Eddy at today's meeting of the Waipawa Hospital Board, when the question of the number of inmates in the Dannevirke Old People 's Home was under discussion. The subject was introduced in a letter from Miss M. Canning, manageress of the home, in which she expressed thanks for support accorded her by the board 's representatives on the Park Island joint c.OTpmittee, when she had claiined that there existed.a quota of twenty ininates for her institntion. The cliairman. klr W. H. "Rathbone. explained that there was a "gentlemen 's agreement" that Miss Canning should have that number, although it was not. actually legally binding. It meant a certain difference to her financially, for she could accommodate 20 just as easily as', say, eighteen, and she was paid 25/- per week for eaeli inmate. It was not easy to give any legal guarantee as to the numbers in any institution because, as conditions improved, and paxticularly towards the vvarmer part of the ycar, there was a tcndencv on the part of inmates to move out and go in, seareh of light work. In his opinion there was really no necessity at present for the three homes. He thought one in Napier and one in Dannevirke quite sufficient. It looked to hira as tliough the total xium-.-crs of inmates were going to drop, particularly about October and onwards. Tlie increascd pensions would alfect the position still further. However, it was a fact that, at the January meeting of the Park Island

committee, a minute had been put on the honks fixing Miss Canning 's quota at not less than twenty. Mr H. G. Hawthorn: Then wc'U have to try to keep the numbers up. Mr D. Eddy: There is more or less ' of a moral obligation for her to have twenty, but when the old men in Napier refusc to f) 0 there what can you do'} lf I were one of them,! wouldn't go there either. The chairman: In my opinion it is not the patients' place ro uecide where they wili go. That is tlie Park Island comniitiee s responsib.lity. "I wouldn't want go to Dannevirke if I were eighty," was the empjiatic statement wicn which Mr Eddy conciuded tho discussion. A letter from the secretary, Park Island Committee, advismg that the Park lsianci agreement had been renewed to Marcb 31, 1938, and tbe matter would be brought up for further consideration in December next to enable . eacn board to consider any fresli torms which may be desired, was then receiv.ed, aiong with Miss Canning 's letter, without further comment.