OLD MEN’S HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 456, 11 September 1928, Page 20

OLD MEN’S HOME

KAMO SPRINGS SITE (From Our Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Monday. "Out of 13 old pensioners at Kamo Springs one had been drowned, one had wandered away, one was nearly dead with pneumonia, and two were in hospital as a result of falling down steps,” said Mrs. Donaldson at the Whangarei Hospital Board to-day, in moving that the motion deferring the matter of the Old People’s Home for 12 months be rescinded. Mr. D. I. McLean seconded, and an animated discussion followed. Mr. J. A. S. McKay opposed the motion strongly. He said that some board members seemed obsessed with one idea, that of the Old People’s Home. There were two points to be taken into consideration—one, the economical situation, and two, the medical point of view. “We must be guided by our officers and the Health Department. Mrs. Donaldson says that one man wandered away, but when they were here they went just the same. One strayed to Whakapara and died in the scrub.” Mr. i'. Elliot, in support of the motion, referred to the recent comment of Professor Sperrin-Johnson who had declared that Kamo Springs was a spa with a great prospect, but its development was hampered by the old people living there. Mr. R. G. Hosking was against the motion. The chairman, Mr. T. Ellis, supporting him, said that he defied’ any one to say that the old men were not well cared for, and the housing at the springs was most useful for relieving the congestion at the hospital. The motion was carried by five to four, and the question of building a new home fr/.- the old people was thus reopened for future reconsideration.