HUMANITARIAN WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 28 May 1915, Page 4

HUMANITARIAN WORK.

CAUK OF THE AGED. THE OLD FOLKS' HOME. One of the important spheres of work that falls to the lot, of the Hospital and C.hari table Hoard is tho erne of tins aged anil, distressed, The importance docs not lay in the number of cases to lie. dealt with, for in Taranakl thertv are comparatively few who are in need l>f charitable jnd or in the later years of their lives find themselves human derelicts requiring a haven of refuse sneh as is provided l),v the Old People's Home. Those , who are BO fortunate us to lie without home or who will fare for them during the winter of their lives can always claim the benefit of the home that is waiting to receive them; and there they can pass the remainder of their days in peaceful serenity and comfort, weli fed, well housed, and well cared for. Nor need they he idle, for they can find work to do in the grounds aiid on the farm, so that the time will not hang on their hands and a feeling of despair set in. There is work for those who can do it, hut the quantity, of course is regelated by the physical abaility of the individual. As a consequence, the promotion of contentment and even happiness is part of the scheme of the institution. and it. is a factor that counts for much. Those who are unahle to work have an ideal spot and surroundings <0 cheer them np, with sympathetic oversight mid many kindlv attentions from compassiojpte visitors. It may be said that in this 01,1 Folks' Home the old folks are at home.

Another site had to b c found .for the I'M 1 coplc s JTonic, in order to make way for flic now hospital, nnd the locality Chosen is oven better than the on> nml position. The front of the building overlooks the Western 'Park, and its elevated pronncl permits of extensive views over land and sen, a more healthy and picturesque situation it would, indeed, lie difficult to find, and when the seaward frontage of the grounds is suitably laid out in terraces it will present a most attractive appearance as '>v>'']l as giving the inmates a 'rood view of whatever is going on in (lie park. The ground around tlie building is mostly under cultivation and. by the line crops, it is evident that the right methods are being' used. The home itself liiib not, been altered to any extent, toeing removed from its old site just as it was. The arrangements are such as to give the inmates all reasonable comforts, and, needless to say, it is a model of scrupulous cleanliness nnd eare throughout. Tf the old folks are not contented and happy in their declining years, it is through no shortcomings in the management or supervision, but it is pleasing to record that there is an, air of cheerfulness nnd good fellowship among the inmates, in spite of the. infirmities with which some of them are afflicted. Discipline has, of course, to be maintained, but the very capable matron in charge does not often have to assert her authority, and the serenity of the home is rarely disturbed. The institution is a decided credit to the board and' the district.

THE FARM. No better evidence can be furnished of the wise policy that animates the board than is afforded by its purchase of sufficient land to enable a farm to be worked in connection with the home. There are some thirty-seven acres available, and, though when the property was acquired there was little heart in the soil, every year has remedied this drawback, and if the same rate of progress is maintained the ensuing five years should see the farm in excellent condition. In buying the land, the board made a most advantageous bargain, while the improvements are rapidly adding to the value. The farm is in charge of a very capable manager, and the system adopted—that of close subdivision of paddocks—is producing marvellously good results. Everything about the; farm is, in excellent order, and implcriients, carts, harness, etc., are all well cared for. The milking, shed is a model of cleanliness and 'wholesomeness, and the charts showing the daily yields of the cows are neatly kept, serving as a good record of the value of eacli' animal. The. cows themselves are nearly all well bred, and a very fine herd they make, while the heifer calves are. nearly pure bred, for the sire is a grand type of a Jersey. Equal praise can be bestowed on the pigs, as grand and healthy a lot of porkers as one would wish to see. A visitor cannot fail to be struck with the prevailing sense of the neatness, order and system on the farm. In time, no doubt, its possibilities will be extended and then even better results will bo obtained. At present the farm more than pays all the expenses of the home, so that this inmates may well be treated liberally. Inis fact should also be very gratifying to tlrfe ratepayers, for it relieves them of the burden'of maintaining the home. Anything that the residents of the district can do to help forward the humanitarian work of the board will be great y appreciated. They should take a pride m having the grounds beautified, and m waiving both the hospital and the home the best in the Dominion. There is no better means of obtaining satisfaction than by lending a helping hand to improve the surroundings of the sick, the maimed, and the aged