.~.. _-..~_¢.~_s

‘airmail. MEETING

. psnsazy has under the able super-

se EIGHT A

_ (Continued from Pave

' by Mr. W. J. Brswders, sec- >_ by Mr. E. T._Higgs.

EQLESIDENTS ADDRESS

I __--% _._,___

_ and Gentlemen: I am to be able to report that during the past year the Free Dis-

'1

vision of Miss Earle carried on its useful community work as satisfac- torily as possible with the limited means at its disposal.

At this meeting it is very import- mt that special attention be given to the financial condition of the dispensary.

Due to the decreased earning power of the citizens the annual subscriptions have notlcably de- clined. In 1925, the receipts were, fi,N5.7l; 1929. 335733.19; 1931, $1,- 143.46, and. for the year ending April 80, 1.935 51,570.30. A detailed financial statement will be read by, the secretary treasurer at this meeting.

The Dispensary sources of rev-‘ rnue are as follows:

Provincial Government 8 200.00 City Grant . . . . . . . .. 150.00 Contributions by Cash and kind for ycar ending April 30. i935 ..

Principal Function

1230-9’! 1600.9‘!

The principal function of the Dispensary at the present time is giving medicine to the poor and, when public relief is suspended food ls provided for those who are in- capacitated through sickness and other causes and are incapable of providing their own sustenance.

The “Coal Fund" which was started many years ago by the late Dr. J. T. Jenkins and continued since by his descendants is for the special purpose of providing coal, and can be used for no other pur-

pose.

The Dispensary Committee have carefully examined the fiariancial affairs of the institution; have reached the conclusion that the revenue is not sufficient to permit thoJJfspensar-y to function in a reasonable degree of efficiency. Riflizing, that without further fin- anélh! assistance its very existence be jeopardized, your Commit- tee made application to the City Ccfiilcii for an increase in ‘its grant of $150.03 making a total of $300.00, andto the Provincial Government forrm increase of $300.00 making a. rotalJrom that source of $500.00. The City Council, at the moment, did not feel that-it was in a pos- ition to increase the grant. but we have some reasons to hope that it may later reconsider its decision.

wean ron moan/ism GRANT

Nothing definite has been decid- ed by the Provincial Government

sunshine into shadowy-places and helped to drive the gloom from dis- couraged lives. By supplying Xmas dinners to families and toys and clot to children. it shows the true trnas spmt in the hearts of our people and leaves it a story of Yuletide joy. The shouts of happy children yearly fill the air, as old Santa. arrives to dis- tribute the many good things from the tree.

The Rotaria-ns sent their usual he ‘ cheque this your and the Male Chorus also helped materially bygivin¢the 0fade ht- ful Christians rtI-to the d. ‘These gifts were much apptrec ted and we are deeply grateful.

A group of Boy Scouts lied one quart of milk a day for four months to a needy family: ,

The Dispensary furnished the, Y's Men with the names of twelve needy families. with children, and told what-was required by them in the line of clothing. Their wants were many but all were supplied; in the‘ greet‘ joyof all concerned.

Many stories were fold me of! the kindness. of. the l 300d DBODIe of Charlottetown. .as I made my rounds after Ghristmaipand- I wish I could, bring you s sense c! the real gratitude that filled’ many humble hearts. One little girl. I‘was told, was sitting‘ sadly at the. window of her home. when a lad!‘- who had left a Christmas-parcel nearby noticed her and asked if the child was locking for Santa. The poor little one shook her head and said she was afraid he wasn't coming this year. The kind stranger drove away and returned shortly with all the things that a child dreams Santa Claus will bring-perharpseven yet she has no

idea what j and relief her visit brought. to at. lhome and that little child. - .

,We gave-out 403~orders for drugs, filled numerous doctors prescrip- tions. gave medicines when our funds made it possible to do so, but to stretch the amount of money at our disposal to meet all the de- uniands was impossible. The follow- ing story will illustrate what we axeshtrying all the time to accom-

One old lady who gets s small pension-a little over $10 s. month, paid her rent, which left her p, small balance to keep he;- for the month. There was coal needed, groceries, milk-how could she manage? I11- ness came-she entered the Hospi- tal where she was kept for several weeks free of charge. then sent home as nothing could be done for her. The problem arose was she- to be left alone? She could not be. After trying unsuccessfully for many days to get someone m live with her, I was glad when o. friend from the country sent one of her chidren to the rescue. This made more demands on the pension money-and a. dental bill took al- most all the rest-by the tenth oi’ the month she had only $2 of her allowance left, and two persons to feed. Where was she to get help if not from the Dizpensary-aziyone who receives a pension cannot get

snd- I would strongly recommend that. z delegation be‘ appointed to Walton the Government and press burrequesg for an increase of the Government Grant. If the Gov- miment would take into considera- ticu_,that the City comprises one seventh of the population of the Province and on a per capigp, basis are contributing to the Provincial Exchequer one seventh of the sub- sidy paid by the Federal Govern- ment and in addition are also con- tributing a considerable sum in Automobile and Income Tax, it would. we feel. realize that philan- thropic institutions in the City are, as a matter oi‘ justice and fair play, entitled to moderate financial ass- lstance.

Should the Dispensary be com- pelled to close its doors the City and Provincial Government would be obliged to include in its relief work the functions cf the Dispen- sary and. it is reasonably certain that the Dispensary could perform the duty of distributing more econ- pmically and any political organization.

Annual Collection

The annual collection will take place this week. Envelopes will be distributed on Saturday, May i8, and the collection of the same will take place on Monday, May 20.

I respectfully urge our citizens to make a special effort to increase their subscription so that the Dis- pensary may continue to carry on efficiently its valuable community work.

1t would be ungrateful and in- considerate for me to close this An- nual report without reference to the passing of the late Mrs. Gert- rude Hodgson whose departure re- moved from the Dispensary Com- mittee one of its oldest ifios; active and sympathetic members. ready at all times to render service and ad-

ce. Iiespectfully submitted. W. F. Tidmlrsh Presided Charlottetown, P. E. I., May l6. 1966.

V MISS EARLITS REPOIT

Ladies and Gentiemenz-iAs loyal Canadian‘: we have rejoiced this month with the rcst of the lhn/pire. in the Silver Jubilee celebrations of our beloved King-and. as loyal supporters of the iFi-ee Dispensary. I all: you to rejoice in this its Silver Jubilee year. Twenty-five years ego- this work was begun. and no one can estimate the comfort and help it has been. through your giftmznd sacrifices, to hundreds of needy ones.

Once more I bring to you “the short and simple annals cf the poor" n this city in this my Annual Report. There is nothing very new in itg-nc great advances have been mule-no discoveries that will cure

or end unemployment. it is

Just fire story of daily, quiet, steady

cttnmpfd to help the aged and the meow, to give at least some addi-

al. food to- undernourished children. to sunny some of "w aim medicines called for in cases

satisfactorily than at

City relief.

Stories like this explain why we spent over $200 on nourishment. The dispensary was supplying food, etc, nine months before relief started and the amount spent is only a. trifle compared to what we would like to use in cases of sick- ness and for wider-nourished children. It is hard for Petple in comfortable homes-people who

Liver Oil, and a lane number of children were benefited by its use during the put Winter.

Would it be amiss just here to ask for empty medicine bottles. We could mate excellent. use of them, ‘especially tho 6 cosine, he most of those who come to us for medicine, have no bottles in which to put it.

I cannot close without plying my tribute to the memory of two who were always generous friends- of time Dispensary, who have passed away during the year. Mrs. George Hodgaon was a. staunch supporter o1 the institution, a member of the

time to its work . Her Christmas gifts will be sorely missed, selected , and wrapped as they were, as care- y fully and beautifully, for the poor- est homes, ss if they had been in- tented for those of wealth and luxury.

Dr. V. I» Goodwill was beloved by the poor and the many pro-- scrlptions sent by him to the Dispensary show his interest in those who could not afford to pay . for medical attention. He, too, will be sorely missed. _

Our Annual Drive is now about to be made. ‘Ilhe need is very great-so great that we want every possible contribution none is too small and none too large~we can use them all. We ask your co- operation‘ in this Annual effort.

Thanks are due the press,.to the Doctors, and Clergy, Benevolent Irish Society and the many kind friends who have helped, us in any

way. . Respectfully submitted AMY C. EARLE"

ADDRESS BY DR. KEEPING Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:

. On being asked by Mr. McNutt to come here this evening and speak-to you, I at. once said I would be pleased to do so. That was the truth, but not the whole truth, because I must admit I do not like public speaking, but I do want to pay a warm tribute to the excellent work that; has been done in this city particularly, and to some extent throughout the prov- ince by the Anti-tuberculosis So- ciety which was formed in 1906, under the presidency of Judge Fitzgerald As I stated in an article I prepared recently for the Can- adian Public Health Journal, “Al- most all the ‘efforts for the _im- provement of public health during the following twenty years can be traced to the work of the public spirited citizens organized in the, Anti-tuberculosis Society. _ l It recalls to my mind a. passage of scripture which reads like this: "How great a matter a little fire kindleth." Now do not. ask me where it can be found‘ for I do not know, but anyway it is a good text to preach from, but I cer- tainly am not going to attempt to preach a. sermon to you, but I feel that thought illustrates what the Anti-tuberculosis Society did in the City of Charlottetown and to some extent beyond its boundary. Your aim has always been a noble one, namely, of endeavoring to secure better health measures for the people of Charlottetown and. of the province, and I know full well you met with lack of sympathy and sometimes almost opposition on many occasions, but like the early christians who

halve never been really cold or actu- ally hungry to realize what

means to be short of coal and scarce of food. I gave a. woman a nioe duck for her Christmas dinner and felt quite comfortable when I thought of her enjoyment of it. Later I learned from herself that she tried to cook the duck for dinner-but whether her coal supply was insufficient or he;- oven at fault-it was not done in time for the midday meal. By tearing‘ the bird to pieces, [as she put it, and cooking it all the rest of the Vda-y, she finally enjoyed her dinner __ bedtime. .

Figures really do not count in

this work. Kindness cannot be ex- pressed m dollars and cents, but when one is asked on leaving a home "When will ' we see you again?" “Come when you can" or Dont‘ be long in coming", one feels that efforts to help are appr ‘ ted and one's heart is filled with thankfullness that; we have been able even in a small way to allevi- ate suffering and poverty among the unfortunate ones of our City»

A letter from a daughter of one of the Dispensary patients who is now living in another City, reads in part "God is good in sending my mother g friend like you."

In making 631 visits to homes during the year, wehave many dif- ferent tirpes of persons tn deal with and difficult situations in meet. Housing conditions in many Places are very bad~there is a great deal of over crowding in some small homes and. the lack of proper sleeping quarters, even insufficient beds and bedding, makes the int of many a woman and children hard indeed. But it is uton ‘ how some even in such straightened cir- cumstances manfllv to hold to their principle and their self-respect. Someone hassald that poverty brings out all that is yellow in line's nature-d! that is so. there must be very little of the yellow in some folks make up. y

One old lady sent for. the Dispenser-y workers ,and confided to her that she had I100 saved for many years arlth which to ply for her burial. The money was hidden in a trunk, and the poor old lady dreaded being taken ill and idling her savings. How it comf f‘ ‘ her to be assured that the money would be put safely in the bank, and that her instructions which were written down, would b0 carried out. This was later done.

There were two deaths during the year among those whom the

helped-both

flourished most when they were persecuted the most. your organ- ization seemed to thrive on ad- versity and what might easily have discouraged many in similar circumstances only seemed to in- crease your appetite for further efforts on behalf of the health of the citizens of the city.

ORGANIZED FREE DISPENSARY

In 1908 your Society organized a. free dispensary and to tell of the achievements of that branch of your work would be a. long story. but it "carried on." year in and year out. and is still doing so, sup- plying the poor and needy with food and clothing, with medicines and fuel, and not only dispensing these necessities but giving _a word of comfort and cheer to those whose morale is perhaps almost completely shattered. Surely this work has been worthwhile. _ work done by the dispensary can- not be measured by the yardstick -of dollars and cents. a measure unfortunately used all too .fre'- qucntly -in this age to determine values, _

The work dons by the dispens- ary has been of,’ sufficient import- ance to receive recognition by our, well beloved‘ Sovereign, King George V, and I'm.sure we are all pleased that Miss Earles labors in this field have been rewarded in such a fitting manner.

Now if I may return to some of the other efforts of the Anti-tu- berculosis Society, nnrnely the agir- tation for meat and.milk inspec- tion for the city. ‘Iihe aggressive‘- ness, may I say, that you showed in this field. deserves honorable mention, and though often buffeoLyet-you never gave up til the victory_was won, and due-to your untiring and ceaseless efforts meat rand milk inspection became a reality in 1911,

Again your Society tirne- and again stressed the need of proper sanstorium accomodatim ~and again you raised sufficient public opinion ‘that. a. senator-tum was er- acted in 1915 and opened. In this? connection the tuberculosis liter», utureyoui- Society circulated was} of greatyalue in enlightening general public in regard to _ l major comm ‘ “ diseaie.

mrnovso ' Avru comm us

The‘ Society amongst otiro. things also agitated for a civic 511-; stfcir sud In incioorationpllnt ' one can clearly see this cioty though ' numbers. y! _ y the betterment of health condl-- tions in the city and in‘ the prov-

Ii ~l 4i 'L

reached in respect to milk inim- -tioo, meat impaction, and in I'l- gnrd to on in to our lllltitutioh in which t.b.'

Executive, and gave much ‘ of her ~

know occupied. "The

oondfilbnl. which exist elty.‘I feel tlratmn as! 11v 1w: mouth _

enough concerning thew of garbage ollsction _ _ ,g ‘all refute‘ bdcoliecte monthly as is roquigrodsnd

s "compulsory,

itary and_preve_nt the all too fre-

quent dumping o city stressed is in respect to old dil

dated buildings unfit‘ for habi a- tlon.

within the tatlon if kept and _ persistent. vover . the city. d as . b6 the cost for maintaining thisl service be col- lected by the city in the taxes. I have been told on good authority- it could _be clone easilyior $2.50 per home. This would go far to- wards making the city more sen-

refuse here and there and everywhere about the

Ahother feature that ‘might be 1-

Some are vacant, many are citydathers

would be more likely to take some worthwhile action concerning such hovels if they knew a body such - as your organization were behind ~ them‘ and pushing ~ towards that rnd. ‘ . ' ‘

As city Health Officer

Iam

Along The . 'Waterfr0nt

' flrhe C. G. S. Brant in command of Captain Easll Kelly, arrived in port Tuesday after placing four buoys at Emmet Island and 1‘ght~. ihg the gas light there.

the captain stated, it would. not be advisable to place any buoys- un-_ til conditions improved. A lariifl field of ice was also sighted-as far as Wood Islands. Buoys were placed in Plctcu Harbor. The Brant is expected to sail today and will go aa-far as Mil-snitch! buoys enroute.

The government tug Fredericton in command of Captain Dicks left Pictou Monday mornng for sport on the east coast of. Cape Breton

‘On account‘ of ice conditions b around the east end of the Island, "

piadnfl

but was forced to return to Pictou -

The‘

1nxious that conditions along the~

ines above mentioned he betlered ~ud I work to that end, but what 1 needed is a quickening of pub- ic spirit. Somerecent legislation xas taken, place that I hope will le of some help in correcting or mprcvlng such conditions. but condi ions are at present far from what one would desire them to be.

Until such a time as the provin- :ial or federal government intro- luce a healih tax, with or without ‘nedical benefits or unemployment insurance, the Dispensary will con- tinue to fill a much needed want in our city and should be given the full support of all the citizens of Charlottetown. '

AIDING NEEDY

In they city at the present time _

there are various organizations which are rendering assistance to the needy. ‘

> First; there is the city relief which is supposed to supply food to those in need in sufficient quantity and of such a quality as to produce what is nkown as u. balanced ration.

Second, there are the church or- ganizations who EhrOUSh the“ “poor fund" supply a number of needy families in their respective congregations with food and cloth- ing, etc. _

Third, there is the Free Dispens-l ary who make their contributions to the needy regardless of creed. The Dispensary is the only organ- imtlcn, I believe, who caters to the sick with medicines in oddi- tion to their other needs.

The three hospitals, Prince Ed- ward Island, City and the Senat- orium, provide care for a number of the indigent, but with all these organizations functioning yet any- one who even makes a hurried sur- vey of the situation will .not be long in being convinced that there is still considerable destitution and want.