INFANT WELFARE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1926, Page 4

INFANT WELFARE

NEW KARITANE HOSPITAL,

FOUNDATION STONE LAID.

WELLINGTON, July 28

A large number of people climbed the steep hill to Afelrosc and admired the view from the peak where the new Karitane Hospital is to be built, the foundation stone'of which was laid by her Excellency Lady Alee Fergusson to-day. His Excellency the GovernorGeneral was present. Sir Truby King, members of the Citizens’ Committee, and of the Plunket Society from all over the Dominion were present.

Air Sydney Kirkcaldie, chairman of, the Citizens’ Committee, expressed appreciation of their Excellencies piescncc, and of the warm interest tliej had-taken in the campaign throughout. The enterprise owed much to Sir Truby King, who had given 21 acres of land, and the hospital construction. It was to he a training school for nurses.

Sir Truby King said that the scheme for the hospital had started with the Rotai-v Club and the Citizens’ Committee. They thanked their Excellencies for the hearty backing they had given to it. At a meeting in the Town Hall, his •Excellency had expressed the hope, that the hospital would he in readiness in twelve months. It had been suggested that if her Royal Highness the Duchess of York was in New Zealand,' she might he asked to. open it. The Society was gratified to know that the names of Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson would be permanently associated with the building. SIR CHARLES FERGUS SON’S SPEECH. The Governor-General, who made one of the happiest of speeches, said that lie had been under the impression that bo was to lay this stone. However, certain paragraphs had appeared, and the indications were that Lady Alice was to do so. and he suspected an un-der-ground influence on her part, which lie found justified, for lier Excellency’s name was on the stone. However, she bad said be could make the speech. In these days he supposed that was all that could he expected. He was glad to see what had been spoken of last year was on the way to realisation. It was lamentable that Wellngton’ should he behind other places in carrying on child welfaro work. He referred to Sir Truby King’s gifts, and to what lie was doing to improve the place. Emulation was not always a good thing, but lie thought that each place could learn from another. Wellington could learn from Dunedin. There they had not only the lowest infant mortality, but the lowest maternal mortality rate in New Zealand—almost in the world. AVliat Dunedin could do. AVellington could do also.

Sir Charles Fergusson referred to the beautiful view and the salubrious air of the site, “where the wind never blows.” This was to he a factor in solving the problem of immigration, for the finest immigrants were the children of our own -people. LADA' ALICE PER.FORAIS THE CERE ATONY.

Her Excellency then declared the stone “well and truly laid.” using a silver trowel suitably inscribed, presented to her by the contractors', the Fletcher Construction Company. The stone is of dark granile, bearing the inscription: “Laid by her Excellency. T.ndv Alice Ferguson. Julv 28th. 1920.” After the eeromonv their Excellencies were shown round the site by SirTrnhy King. and were then entertained to morning tea. by Lady King at her bouse. Among those present were Airs J. O. Coates, and also delegates to the Phinket Conference, local doctors’, their wives, members of the Citizens’ Committee for Karitane Appeal, the Hospital Board and other bodies.