NURSES' SOCIAL ROOM.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1919, Page 7

NURSES' SOCIAL ROOM.

MEMORIAL FOR WAR SERVICES. The question of the erection ot a suitable room for social and recreational purposes, in connection with the new nurses' home which is at present being built at the New Plymouth Hospital came under discussion again at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board. The chairman reminded the members of the suggestion made with regard to the enlargement of the room already provided for in the plan of the building, and also of Mr. Halcombe'a statement that he thought the Urenui Committee would be willing to devote the money they had raised for a war memorial to the purpose suggested. He stated that, so far, no response had been made to the suggestion, but eajiressed the belief that if the ln&tta- .were placed before the public through the medium of the press there would be a generous response. Mr. Halcombe, in a further comment on his previous, remarks on the matter, said that such a hall would be a monument to the services rendered by our men in the war, and would last for ever, and, at the same time, be of inestimable benefit. He was not much impressed with the idea of erecting the ordinary form of monument, which, in years to come, would fall into disrepair, and, being of no utility, would not be of the same value as such an institution as was now suggested. He stated that the Urenui Committee had about £BB in hand, and were willing that it should be used in the proposed manner, providing New Plymouth and the other districts found the rest of the money. He undertook, also, to say that the amount would be made up to £IOO. He took it that the moneys subscribed would carry the usual Government subsidy, so that, of the £IOOO estimated as the cost of the proposal, not more than about £4OO would have to be provided by the other districts. The object was an excellent one, and the money would be wisely spent. Mr. J. Andrews, in supporting the scheme, said it would also serve as a memorial to the nurses who had sa<!rificed their lives in the war.

Mr. Campbell said there had been a movement in his end of the district which had resulted in all the settlements surrounding OpUnake agreeing, instead of having each a separate war memorial, to combine and place one memorial for the whole district in Opunake. He thought' if the same thing was done in New Plymouth there would be no doubt about the money being found. Mr. Morgan agreed that the general style of monument was 11861688, and they often became an eyesore. He did not like the idea of each little place erecting its own memorial, and favored the idea of a central institution such as was suggested. Waitara had not yet discussed the idea.

Mr. Halcombe pointed out that, even if districts did erect their own war memorials, there was no reason why they should not also subscribe to this one. The amount required was not large, and the services of the soldiers and the nurses was appreciated by all. The hall would be for the use of those who were serving, and would continue to serve, humanity....

The chairman pointed out that he had always found the newspapers very sensitive to the importance of any such appeal as this, and he thought that, through their instrumentality, the people would be induced to subscribe to the fund.

The secretary stated tliat he had been informed that the matter was being taken up on Pukearuhe, and also that the New Plymouth Pierrots liad offered to give a day on behalf of the fund if the scheme was gone on with. The board adopted the proposal and decided to apply t6 the Department for the necessary permission to enlarge the room already provided, being confident that the money would be forthcoming.