HOSPITAL SATURDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1920, Page 4

HOSPITAL SATURDAY.

A GREAT SUCCESS.

Nurses raise £250. That the public of New Plymouth and settlers of the surrounding districts who do their business there on Saturdays, will, when asked, support any deserving cause, was again demonstrated on Saturday last when the nurses of the local hospital asked for £2OO to enable tiles lo bo used in the kitchen and bath-rooms of the new nurses' home, in place of the concrete preparation specified in the contract for tlfat building. The necessity for appealing to the public for direct action in the matter arose from the fact that the Board, whilst in sympathy Willi the desire to see tiles used, could not see its way to go to this further expanse iiijfidd'ition to the heavy cost already entailed in the erection and furnishing of the bili'kling.

When .this decision was arrived at the matron and staff who, as tlie actual users of the nurses' home are well qualified to judge such matters, decided that the provision of the tiles would very materially and permanently lighten the domestic work entailed in the running of such an establishment, and that they would raise the £2OO which the Board required before it would sanction the desired improvement. They set to work with a will, and one very gratifying, fea-' ture of the hard work done by them is that their personal interest in the question was very small, by reason of the fact that the average term of service of a nurse in such an institution is usually but three or four yeari, and subsequently their work will mostly benefit their successors and the management of the home in years to come. As a result of flower, produce, sweet and fancy stalls, and the use of collection boxes in the town on Saturday, they were successful in raising £250 odd, and the excess of £SO over the amount required will be used to provide other requisites for the home. The organising of the canvass was done by Mrs. Hugh Raily, and the thoroughness of the work is demonstrated by the fine results achieved. The nurses were assisted at the stalls .by Mesdames Walker and Blackley. Among the canvassers was little Miss Jean Blackley, who was attired as a nurse, and was most successful in her work. Included in the donations were cheques as follows: Messrs. Borthwiek and Sons, £5 ss; Mr. and Mrs. Burgess, £2; F. J. Hill, £2; Taranaki Daily News £2 2.5; W Eagar (lnglewood), £1 Is; S. Lord, £1 Is; E. Hoiden, £1 Is; Pursers', Ltd., £1 Is; Geo. King, £1 Is; Taranaki Herald, ;C1 Is; A. B. Gibson, £1; Hooker Bros., £l. The matron and nurses wish to thank all those who contributed, and in particular children of Omata, Pitniho, Okato, Oakura, Tataraimaka, Arawhata Road, Kent Road, Egmont ' Village, Mangorei, Frankley Road, and other schools whose names were not identified, for gifts of eggs and other produce; also Mrs. May and Mrs Graham for- supplying nurses and helpers with luncheon and morning and afternoon tea. Competitions held in the course of the day resulted as follows<Suede handbag, Mrs.-s Skelton Fitzroy; baby doll, Miss Sybil Home; Indian nightdress, Mr. Perry (338); knitted slippers, Mr. I. Myett (No. 101); knitted sweater, Mrs. Huthnance (hospital); box of sweets, Air. Warner ('hospital); satin blouse, Sister Paget (hospital); black satin slippers.. Mrs. Rowe (No. 90). Any unclaimed articles can be obtained at Mr. Baily's office, A.M.?, buildings.