OLD PEOPLE'S HOME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 23 January 1907, Page 2

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME

TJIK .IXMATKS' COMi'LAIXT. The monthly report of Mr V. Poland.! manager of the X-, ; iy Plymouth Old People's that there arc now 1.0 iirmiites. ,'!:j males and 7 females. During tiic month there had have been three admissions, two mules and one female. The general health is good, and the discipline excellent, The following petition from the in males of the Home came before the Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard ,n .Monday:—"\\'e, the undersigned inmates, respectfully request you to consider the question of retaining the service of .Mr rAirrar and his wife as custodians of the Old People's Home. We wish to call tiic Hoard's attention to the fact that a, very marked improvement hits taKon place since their departure, and that all the inmates are treated in a humane manner, particularly those who arc through in(irmities unable to do for themselves. We do not wish to say more upon this question, unless it U the wish of the JioaTct to prosecute full her investigation. We are, gentlemen, yours "re sped fully, Carol J;. Jlawiin"*, 1! Clark (her mark), W. Hdecuinbc, T. Williams, E. Wright, W. AlclJavitt, Koborfc l'arker, W. Nowland, R. MeCruddon, ami the "marks" of John Only, A. (J. Turner, .Joseph Nusans, Thomas Trice, 0. Francis, li. Piogore, C. Hurlstone, John JSishop, K, Cainpbell, W. Ilickcmiithc, .J. Burrow, T. H. Eaymhavd, John James, W. I'jvnlice, John Pauley, J. fcitevenson, \V. j Coutts, \V. Stanton, and R, Chain-

Sir McDonald sniil he was asfonianfid at the action of (he inmntcs who pent the petition, which seemed like dictating to the Board. From his sixteen years' experience of the Board he was able to say that Mr Farrar had always given satisfaction to the ratepayers and 'to the Board, and as far as he had been able to ascertain, to tire inmates of tile Home. Th?re wore exceptions, fc knew, but the in mates who complained of the manager were generally worthless follows who insisted on getting drunk and thai sort of thing. Air Farrar had been very strict in those cases. The speaker said (hat no doubt Mr Poland, the new manager, was a thoroughly good man, but lie iiad not yet been in the Hoard's service to establish the reputation that llr Farrar had estnblisned. The Old People's Home, under Mr Fnrrar's management, had always i been kept scrupulously clean, and there had been no fault to iind. In fact, visitors from other parts had frequently remarked that the institution was a credit not to Taranaki alone, but to the whole colony. This complaint, he thought, mii,t be the outcome of spite. Jle moved (hat the letter lie on tire table. Mr O'Sullivan remarked thai of course Mr Farrar would be re appointed on his return. Other members concurred. The chairman said lie had reason to believe that the petition had been prompted by one or two men in the town.

Mr McDonald said 'there were too many "marks" as signature?. lie know that several who could write iiad only used a cross as a signature. Mr JSurgcss questioned whether any person would dare to use the iiiinatos' names witlioul authority. The ciiairnian said ihnf. one or two of the signatories had not been in the Home under Mr Karrar, so tlicir names could hardly count. At any rate, lie thought the inmates showed little tact in complaining whilst Mr I'arrav was ill.

The petition was allowed to lie o the table.