Mew Plymouth Hospital.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7831, 25 May 1905, Page 2

Mew Plymouth Hospital.

Opening of Consumptive Annexes. VERY SIiCCESSI-'UI, CEREMONY. 'l'he widespread interest taken in the owning of the newly erected annexes at the New Plymouth Hospital lor the Iretitinent of consumptives, was manifested by the lurgc and re-

presentative gathering which assembled on Wednesday afternoon. J)uspilo the threatening weather con- ' ditions the attendance nuinbere.t about 300, including many visitors from all parts of the district. The hospital grounds presented- n pretlv and animated scene, and there was a liberal display of bunting to mar.< the auspicious occcasion. In r«co?,-' nition of New Plymouth's achioV'lnoni In. I>cing the lirst town in Si-vl SV'dJund to establish consumptive u> ; Hexes in connection with its hospital, l Sir Joseph Ward (Minister controlling the Public Health Department). Dr. Mason (chief health officer {or the colony), and Dr. Yalintine, (assistant iqhief health officer) made t!■•' trip from Wellington in order, to attend. Representatives of the various local and district governing bodies were present, and the gathering! included a Jargc proportion'of lad. ies. TfcoTSown Band was in attendance. Tho two annexes, which have been described in a previous isskio, are separate wooden buildings erected on a most, advantageous lofty site east of the hospital, the outlook being breezy and the view magnificent,. Each is built on modern lines, with tho latest improvements in regard to light and ventilation. One will bo used for males and tho other for females, each having four hods.. The annexes aro separated by the administrative block oC building», set apart exclusively for this department of tho hospital work. Mr G. Tisch (Chairman of the Hospital Hoard) in his introductorv remarks, expressed the pleasure of the gathering at the attendance of fcu- Joseph Ward, Hrs. Mason and Vallntino, and other visitors. Ho referred to tho latest methods for dealing with tho dread scourge consumption, and pointed out that Sir Joseph Ward, as Minister for Health, had introduced legislation calling on the various Hospital Hoards to build consumptive annexes, distinct from the main hospital buildings, for the isolation and proper treatment of consumptive patients, yet near enough to lie controlled by the same administrative staff, so that the expenses need not be increased. The community owed a debt of gratitude to Dr. Valintine for starting the movement, and il was to his initiative that New Plymouth owed its proud distinction of opening the lirst annexe in Now Zealand. Much credit was'duo to the ladies and Air J. 0. George, a s secretary, for the handsome amount they had collected und handed over to the Hoard, totalling over £7OO. Xn building the annexe, fitting up the nurses' old quarters us the administrative block, providing other Quarters for the nurses, and drainage, the outlay would bo about JCIoOO. The Chairman congratulated the town and district on the possession of an up-to-date hospital and highly efficient medicul und nursing stall. (Applause.) In conclusion the Chairman expressed appreciation of the splendid gathering, and considered Empire Day as eminently appropriate on which to celebrate such an event. He trusted Taranaki's example would soon be followed by many other hospital districts throughout-the colony. (Applause.) Sir Joseph Ward, on coming forward to perform the opening ceremony, was presented by the Chair- I man with a silver key, suitably In- J scribed, to conuncmorato the occasion.

The rain coming on at this tincture made things unpleasant, uud the ceremony of opening the door having been performed, an adjournment was made en masso to tho large refreshment marquee, which comfortably uccommodatod the company. Tho Chairman read a congratulatory message from tho Premier, who had been una'hlc to make the trip owing to pressure of engagement*?. Mr Tisch remarked that they would have been pleased to' have the Pre. mier present to congratulate talm, on entering his thirteenth year of office. (Applause.) Sir Joseph Ward in un excHlent and comprehensive speech, remarked that to have been the first to udopt tho suggestion that each district should look after its own sick, and grant to the sufferer, poor in purso as well as in health, an opportunity of trying what was now recognised by all experts as the best treatment for the fell disease, was surely something to bo proud of. The example was being followed by others-, notably Nelson and Wellington. The fact that the annexe had risen by reason of the people's! goodness of heart created a local patriotism and interest in it which was sometimes lacking towards an institution whota ly supported by the State. It was coming to be realised that consumption was a preventable disease. Many requests had been made to set up another institution like that at Cambridge, but so long as the Department found tho people playing) the same generous part,as Now Plymouth had done, there was no need on the score of suffering humanity. There was another reason for not granting the request, and that was_ of finance. The present (iovern-' ment hod never considered money when it had been for the welfare of the people, but he -was convinced that in this system of annexes attached to already established hospitals was to Iks found not only the most economical but the best method of dealing -with this momentous question. He thought that every hospital area should look after its own sick in this particular instance, and he had resisted on sey/ oral occasions the expressed desire of some districts to combine unless all parties were in absolute agreement. New Plymouth could rest assured that tho town would not be inundated by sick from other riis-

*" tricts. (Applause.) Townnds this noble work the Government hud also " done something. They had set up at considerable expense Te Wuikalo Sanatorium, neur Cambridge, and ' in addition for every pound the pub- ' lie placed on the nltar of common ". humanity the Government had given . twenty-four shillings. (Applause.) ', Sir Joseph went on to acknowledge " the good work accomplished by both ' Drs. Mason and Valintinc, and con--3 grntulaled the Mayor (Mr Cock), Mr ' Tisch. Mr George (secretary to the ' collecting committee), and the ladles on their successful and praiseworthy f efforts. (Applause.) It might 1* . worthy tho consideration of Friendly , Societies, ho suggested, whether they " should not combine and take united action to stem the inroads of th* disease by establishing a consumptive J home (or memliers of Friendly Societies alone, independent of the Go- 1 ' vornment. When he last spoke on ' this subject in the North he advocated the formation of an anti-con-sumptive league throughout the colony. Much hud already been dono 1 to * creutc a healthy public opinion in ' this direction, and Turanaki had shown its earnestness in a most practical way. Mr K. M. Smith, M.H.K., eomiiicn--1 tod on one or two legislative matters and concluded by reminding the company that he had been instrumental in gelling tho title deeds of the hospital property. He was sorry tho districts were seceding, as they could not hope to establish Kuch u|>- j to-dale institutions us that ut New I'lyuioUth. The Mayor spoke in congratoJatorv j vein, adding that with reference U>| Friendly Societies there hud' been i very little sympathy and too much, red lupo from the Government In tho past; "and it was very pleasing to him, as an old member of Friendly Societies, to hear Sir Joseph Wurd say he wus prepared to assist them. He (tho Mayor) had advocated that 1 members of Friendly Societies lAiould have a weekly reduction. When theyl had io uso our hospitals. Dr. Mason, Chief Medical Officer, in a speech dealt with the professional i asi>cct of consumption, preaching tho , doctrino of "prevention." Ninety,!, per cent, of tf»e eases, ho said, wero j contracted, from other sufferers by , means of the infected sputum: Every i parson, wfeo expectorated , in tho , wrong place should be inmlshcd. This , wasmo new idea.. T*e thing that ap- , palled medical m en was that though , the roacdy was Bo simple, yet the i RSoplo would not adopt it. < Dr. Valintinc, in whose honour. , threo cheers were given, said tl»t 15, months ago he had read a paper, giving statistics to show it was tha | duty of tho Medical AssofiUUion toj organtso a crusado against con»ump-| Hon on the linos of tha cruMtle m t the old country. (ApplauW) ®B b**.C also suggested that until we «•*{ sufficient sanatoria avaiiWe **«WM the poorest Iw^gk^^^^^fStf

if tho matter wan pTum um people of ths colony a Urge proper*lion of the cost of these structures wo-ikitoe borne by pubtle subscriplion. His medical confreres agreed) with the exception that they doubMdJ * the efficacy of public subscriptions, but he had been pleased through tho medium of the Taranaki people t*i dis)K>l any doubts in this direction. The Hon. T. Kelly, M.L.C., spoke from the standpoint of an old colon* ist. Mr Jennings, M.H.K., in an appropriate speech, considered that tlw Government had been lax in their support to friendly, societies. Mr V. Uwry, lf.ll.ft (Pared.) added a few Words. Dr. Ixatham, superintendent of the, medical staff, was alio called upon* Ho trusted the staff would prove to the public that they could treat con- * sumptive cases as well as at any other institution in the colony. I Ms J. C. George gave the following particulars of the amounts Cob i lectod : Hospital Saturday coll«c-(. lion, augmented by the proceeds ut a concert, £289 ; New Plymouth donations NubHefjiucnUy, £B2ft j Inglewood, £»o lihi (id ; other country, districts, £OO. He paid a tribute to the lady collectors, especially mentioning tw 0 ladies at Manaia and Uronui respectively. The nett result, after paying £l2 5s lOd expenses, was £725 2s on". --»- Three cheers (or Mr Tisch, called for by Sir Joseph' Ward, and thanks Ut the visitors, concluded the proceedings. Afternoon tea was nerved by list* ~ dames Cock, E. If. Smith, Tisch, * ltyan, Newman, MacDiartnid, Mil* Tester, the members of the nursing , staff, and other ladies.