The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1907 CONSUMPTIVE SANATORIUM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3749, 9 February 1907, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1907 CONSUMPTIVE SANATORIUM.

Mr P. C. Freetli, of Palmerston N. has been arousing the enthusiasm of the people in our neighbouring town on behalf of suffering humanity. He has - been raising funds for a consumptive sanatorium. A very laudable object and deserving of practical support. It is our duty to help our suffering brothers and sisters and endeavour, by placing them in a suitable localit}', amidst pleasant surroundings, to successfully combat this awful disease. But if would be suicidal for Pah merston to allow a site to be chosen for such a purpose with a 60 mile radius. Mr Freeth suggests the sand hills near Foxton as a site. But the residents in this district would object to a man to such a proposition. Apart from the fact that the climate of this district is not altogether suitable for such a purpose, nothing would tend more to damn Palmerston and Foxton commercially than the establishment of a consumptive sanatorium in the vicinity. The establishment of a ' sanatorium near Cambridge has had a disastrous effect upon that town. Similar results would obtain here. The Government should establish two sanatoriums, one for the north and one for the south Island. The most Jl : : ■ ■■■' .4 .. < L . ■>,. :.

suitable locality in the north Island would be the Taupo district. While Mr Freeth is to be commended for his humane endeavours we cannot allow hysteria, to overshadow sound judgment. Agitations for the establishment of a consumptive sanatorium in this district then, must be stamped out. The subject is of colonial importance and the Health Department should take the matter in hand and decide upon a site in the district suggested.

In a letter to our Palmerston contemporary dated December 11th, 1906, Mr D. Pirani, then a resident of Cambridge, advised a vigorous protest against the erection of the institution near Palmerston. He added, inter alia, he could relate several pathetic instances of young and strong people being hurried to early graves through contact with those suffering from phthisis, and he pointed out that if such things occurred at Cambridge where the sanatorium was seven miles from the town, the danger at Palmerston, with the proposed sanatorium at the people’s very doors, would be much greater.