CHRISTMAS GRANTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1942, Page 2

CHRISTMAS GRANTS

TO WAIRARAPA HOSPITALS CONTINUED BY BOARD. COMMITTEE PROPOSAL, REJECTED. A recommendation from the Finance Committee, that owing to uifliculty in obtaining supplies the usual grants to matrons of the respective institutions for purchasing Christmas extras be discontinued during the war period met with a mixed reception at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board. . , After discussion it was decided by ten votes to eight to continue the grants to the hospital matrons as usual, the matrons to use the money at then discretion. , The chairman, Mr H. H. Mawley, emphasised that the amount involved was of no consideration. It was only a question of whether goods could be bought or not. Mrs J Robertson, ana Messis A. B. Martin and J. F. Thompson expressed their opposition to the move to cut out the children’s Christmas tree, etc. Miss C. McKenny said the board s grant was the nucleus of a fund which was swelled by public donation. Mr Trevor Beetham said that when the Finance Committee dealt with the matter the amount was , not , c + O unf d However, it was understood that othei hospitals were cutting out Christmas comforts and it would be a very small war effort on the part of the children or patients to forgo extras. “It is a precious poor and unnecessary sacrifice which can only be called absurd and ridiculous,” observed Mr W B. Martin. , , „ Mrs S. Fletcher and other members considered that issuing extras at Christmas was of benefit to the health of patients.