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The Advocate i
Fair and Impartial;
. [ _FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1928.
WATTLE DAY.
TO-DAY is Wattle Day in Tasmania. For "some weeks to corne
many of our country lanes, and many portions of our prin
cipal highways will be rendered additionally pleasing to the eye
because of thc masses of Australia's national bloom which will bc
in evidence. '
It is fitting that the annual coining of this beautiful flower
. should be marked by a special effort throughout the State on be
half of one of our .most deserving charities. Those of us who
are able to travel about the country which presents such a glorious
spectacle with the wattle in bloom may well show some apprecia
tion of our good fortune by rendering .practical assistance to
others less fortunately circumstanced. Among these are a number
who have become incapacitated by the scourge of consumption
Australia's white plague. 4 ,
Many years have passed since a number" of charitably-dis
posed men and women succeeded in establishing at New Town a
sanatorium for the treatment of consumptives. Once the disease
reaches a certain stage, special treatment for the victims becomes
a necessity. Medical men agree that if taken in time thc advance
of the malady may be arrested, and while much has been done to
alleviate thc pain and distress of incurable patients in the New
Town Sanatorium, many, others have been so successfully treated
that they have been enabled to once more follow their respctive
occupations, and to maintain an improved state of health because
I of the experience gained and thc advice given at this excellent in
stitution.
r In some of the districts of the West and North-West this
year's appeal for funds has already been made; in others it will
bc conducted very soon. Those who annually undertake the task
of raising subscriptions are engaged in a noble work, and are
deserving of every encouragement. Although the sanatorium is
located in tile South of the State, it is none thc less a National
asset. Patients from North, South, East and West gain ready
admittance. Wc are not in favor of our municipal councils sub
scribing to every charitable appeal which is made, because we
/ recognise that in the aggregate thc sum involved would be large;
but in the case of the New Town home for those who have been
smitten with the awful scourge of tuberculosis we suggest that
an exception may be made. A certain sum is allowed by law for
councils to expend upon such matters, and we feel that the
municipal bodies which have already subscribed to thc Wattle
Day appeals have but acted justly towards an institution the
benefits of which are State-wide. We hope that other councils
will follow thc example set.
A movement is on foot to establish a sanatorium in Laun
ceston. While those responsible may bc given credit for the very
best of intentions, we feel that decentralisation of charitable work
can be overdone. Possibly it would have been preferable in thc
inst place if Launceston had been chosen as the site, in view of
the fact that it would be more central and convenient for thc
visits to patients by relatives in West, North and North-West.
However that may bc, the fact remains that in thc South we have
an institution well managed, and which will continue to render
excellent service to suffering humanity so long as funds are forth
coming. We trust that the people in this part of the State will
maintain and even enhance the reputation which they have
achieved as generous supporters of thc sanatorium.
Just as the coming of thc wattle beautifies our fields and high
ways, and reminds us of the approach of the glorious spring-time,
so we may make the occasion one of good cheer to those who
arc patients in the New Town home, and to those who shoulder
the great responsibility of its maintenance.
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