“INCREASED POVERTY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 765, 11 September 1929, Page 7

“INCREASED POVERTY”

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY WORK Owing to so much poverty due to unemployment there has been an exceptional Increase in the number of sick poor in the hospital. This information is contained in the annual report of the Auckland Hospital Auxiliary, which is to be submitted to the annual general meeting this afternoon. In view of the decided increase in the activities of the auxiliary it has not been possible to extend operations at the Mental Hospital or St. Helen’s Hospital. During the year 2,531 garments were received and 2,873 distributed. The Visiting Committee, visited the hospital every Tuesday cheering the patients and distributing clothing, jam, books and cigarettes, and 40 visits were paid to the homes of patients receiving aid. During the year 600 sick and poor patients were taken to their homes by the Motor Transport Committee. The scheme for putting wireless in all the wards of the hospital has not been completed owing to lack of funds. With a view to further extension of the wireless, a committee has been set up to make preliminary arrangements for a special appeal for this work. The street collection realised less than usual, the falling-off being attributed to the special earthquake appeal.