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Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1920, Page 2

In the last two issues of the “Guardian” correspondents have drawn attention to certain aspects affecting the .Kumara; 'Old '.Peoples’ Home. It is right, of course that the conduct of such institutions should he kept under notice, but a gpod deal more can be done by approaching such subjects in a reasonable way. The correspondents appear rathe bent on attacking the Committee, and the manner of the attack is rather disposed to baulk the ob-

ject aimed at. The hospitals and charitable institutions are administered by a central board, sitting here, and naturally the members have not full cognance of all that passes at the institutions. Tlie present board is very thriftful in its administration, and it is probably the least costly the ratepayers have been served with. The gentlemen give their time and business ability gratuituously, and they do so because first it is a charitable work, and secondly with the object of carrying out that charitable work as economically

as possible. The members get no pecuniary reward for their services; some of them, in point of fact are very much out of pocket over the months’ business. Gentlemen working on these lines are flot likely to he unmindful of the care of the patients. The patients are as a matter of fact, their first care. If, therefore, it is thought some improvement could be effected in the internal management of the institutions, the members would be ready to avail themselves of the suggestions, if such are put forward in a conciliatory rather than aggressive way. Whether the old age pensioners should receive 15/or 17/6 per month for pocket money is not such a large matter on which to condemn the whole management. The difference is so small that under certain conditions—say the institution supplying tobacco at cost wholesale price—it might disappear altogether. Probably the amount involved is not sufficient to justify local trading, but the point being raised the Board will no doubt go into it reasonably, and as tobacco is soaring in price, the members are not likely to rob the old men of the luxury of their weed for a shilling or two per month. ,As regards the clothing of the patients, it is the duty of

the Board to supply what is required, and if the requisition for this is made by the responsible superintendents, those directing the affairs of the Board are not the sort of people to be niggardly about such a matter. In reference to the old man removed to th* mental hospital—that does not rest with the Board, but with the two independent doctors who com-1 mit the patient. No doubt sonic of j the old men get "very troublesome, and | even dangerous when passing into senility; and at such time they require special watching, but they cannot he sent to a mental institution at the whim of a Board or any individual, they may be committed only on ex- j

pert evidence. Theses cases are very sad and regrettable, but they recur, and they must he dealt with on their merits, and looking to the safety and comfort of the other patients affected. The attention drawn to the subject however, shows that the position is being watched, even if it is misunderstood, and it is right to see a proper fellow feeling expressed for those beyond helping themselves.