“LONG OVERDUE’'

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 777, 25 September 1929, Page 9

“LONG OVERDUE’'

PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH REST HOMES LOCAL OPINIONS Satisfaction with the proposal t*» establish Government rest homes for destitute persons who. by reason of age and infirmity are unable to take care of themselves, was expressed by members of charitable Institutions here, and M *. E. C. Cutten, S.M.. today. * The general opinion was that such homes, the first of which is expected to be located in Auckland, should pro vide farm work of some description to keep the inmates interested. The Government Bill containing the proposal was read for the first time in the House of Representatives yesterday. “An excellent idea that is long overdue/’ was the opinion expressed by the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour. Methodist city missioner, whose opinion was sought by a Sun man this morning. “It is essential that magistrates be given the power of committing people to the home. There are dozens of people in the town now who should be in such homes. As it is. if they are in a home they won’t stay, but this pro posal will ensure that they will be kept there in their own interests. SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE

“A large area of land should be available so that inmates can work It would give them more sense of independence and certain privileges could be permitted according to tbo amount of work done. A good deal of the success of the scheme will depend on the details which have not yet. been made public.” Some degree of privacy was esscr tial. Mr. Scrimgeour said, and it would be better to have a collection of separate huts than a mass building.

“The main thing is to occupy their minds and give them a sense of pride in their surroundings,” Mr. Scrimgeour concluded. Major Annie Gordon, female probation officer, expressed approval of the scheme. “It is a burden to think that every •winter there are scores of old people sleeping out/’ she said. “Surely we owe a debt to those who are suffering from the infirmities of age. The fact that they can be committed to tin proposed home is a blessing. We hat *- found it very difficult to keep them in homes and we could not keep them in their own interests when they wanted to go.” A good deal of tact would be re quired in dealing with them, as oi«1 people were very difficult to handle. It was very important that the proposed rest home should be well out of the city and that plenty of laud should be provided. “They could do gardening and raise poultry, and thus retain their interest in life,” she said. “It is an excellent idea to call it a rest home. The name does not sup gest anything charitable or degrading, concluded Major Gordon. In the opinion of Mr. E. C. Cutten. S.M.. the home would be a relief to magistrates, who have previously had no option but to send to gaol thos old people who were unable to sup port themselves by reason of age or infirmity.

“A rest home would be of grea* benefit to the community,” he said. “The fact that they can be committed to the home for a definite period and must stay there supplies a long-felt want in dealing with such cases. In the past they have refused to stay in homes.”