ST. HELEN’S HOME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2114, 13 April 1920, Page 3

ST. HELEN’S HOME.

DEPUTATION WAITS ON ■MINISTER. The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education and Public Health, paid a short visit to Palmerston on Saturday. He arrived by (he Auckland express, and was met at the station by the Mayor (Mr .1. A. Nash, M.P.) and members of (be High School and Hospital Boards. The .Minister was approached by a deputation from the Hospital Board mi the subject of a St. Helen's Home tor Palmerston North. The Mayor, as chairman of the committee set up to go into (lie question, asked the Minister, if lime was available, i» pay a visit of inspection to the properly it was proposed to acquire for' the purpose. Ho mentioned that there had been an agitation afoot for some time to have a maternity home m Palmerston North. He bad arranged with i)r. \a.iinline to coaie to Palmerston next week to inspect the Home. The matter had been referred to Sir Francis Bell recently, but as be was giving up I lie Ministerial position he bad preferred to take no action. The Mayor urged upon the Minister the necessity for such a home in Palmerston North, pointing out to him (ha! one had been established in Invercargill, and (hat Palmerston, In ■Hew of (he large population in the town and surrounding district, bad just a> much right to it. Tin 1 Mayor memimicd the diliiciill ies that bad arisen oier tiie maternity home, and si a Pal 11 •a i be was quite in accord -villi the proposal to have life home away from (he hospital as long as i was a St. Helen’s Home. Mrs 'A. S. Gill also invited the Mm-

isler to inspect the property under oifer. Cue said that no doubt Dr. Vaiintine would furnish a technical report, bill it would assist (ho Min-

P; have a ! idea of what proposed if lie con'd a cl- it hansel i. The- ?in!:-(<■!■ held ilic view that ii would he heller for Or. V;ilin l iiit* In took in!o Imo mailer and report, audjic (1 he Minister) would inspect Ihe phicc ;il :i Infer dale, Mr ■]. K. Hornhlow explained llud Ihe Board's idea in ihe first place, in order (o eomplele (he hospital, was lo have a materniiy w.ard lo lake eertiiin eases. Finally (hey wore granted ,Co,ooo for Ihe creel ion of a maternity home in ihe hospital grounds. In order to have it away from Iho iiiaiii iuuhlmg, a silo was paridia.M'd by ihe Board. Then an agitation was set up Hint ihe homo should ho right nw:iy from the hospital grounds. Il was lhen thought a fair oompromise if the Government could ho induced to place a St. Helen’s Home in Palmerston Xnrth. Mr Horn blow pointed out the advantages of such an establishment to help Ihe mothers of the town and district, and also as a training ground for maternity nurses, who could ho sent out into the hack country' 'where no assistance whs obtainable, tt was felt that the population jusfitied the Government in placing' a Stale institution in this centre. The Minister promised to go into 1 lie mailer with his department. So Jar as he was personally concerned, he had every sympathy with the movement to provide every possible facility for helping women in their hour of trial —especially the women of .the hackhlocks—as ho knew what they .had to sutler, and Ids heart went out to them. • He believed from what they had said that there was a strong feeling in favour of the movement in Palmerston North, and ihev deserved encouragement. He made no promises, but would look into the matter, and would bo pleased to inspect the building’ if time permitted. Later on ihe Minister inspected the property in question —Mr W. Paries residence in College Street — and appeared, to be very favourably impressed with it. He and the party were the guests of Mr and Mrs Park at morning lea. —Times.