ST. HELENS HOME CAMPAIGN.

Shannon News, 23 September 1921, Page 4

ST. HELENS HOME CAMPAIGN.

“A DISAPPOINTING RESULT." The Feilding Star says:— - Under this heading the s Palmerston Standard laments the non-success oi the campaign in aid of a Maternity Home for its big town. A £IO,OOO effort was put forth, but the sum reached did not turn £4OOO. This is a very serious reflection upon the generosity of the semi-city, which is big enough, with quite enough population, to have raised £IO,OOO within its own borough, without going outside Palmerston. But the two local papers have been ungracious enough f to blame outside districts for not saving Palmerston’s face. The Standard on Saturday night actually names and blames Feilding and district in connection with the £6OOO failure, saying: “The parts which sadly failed to come up to expectations were Feilding, Horowhenua and Oroua, while Kiwitea, and Pohangina jointly could only raise £32 10s.” Pity poor city Palmerston! Its forces raided Feilding on three or four occasions, and certainly got more out of its two sacred concerts here than big Palmerston contributed at its similar concerts. And these raids were made despite the fact that it was officially pointed out to the raiders that Feilding was collecting on behalf of its own movements: (1)’ the Soldiers’ Memorial, and (2) a Feilding and district Maternity Hospital. Kiwitea also had excellent reasons for the belief that charity begins at home, for that district had been urging the need for a Cottage Hospital for some time—but Palmerston has the monopoly in hospitals, with a levy upon Feilding and district, for its upkeep. Feilding is a fine financial milch cow for Palmerston, and its local papers should at least be fair and grateful*.-