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46
performed by the Committee, and considered in retrospect certain aspects
of the work during the twenty years through which the Committee has
functioned.
The Committee gives careful consideration to the economic position
of each patient and his dependants during and after his treatment and
arranges appropriate help when this is needed. Owing to the representative
nature of the Committee, advice and help can be obtained from
many different sources.
The Committee also considers the question of assistance towards the
payment of dentures and recommends to the Council the granting ot
extra nourishment where this is considered helpful to the patient s
treatment. Thirty-five patients received this extra diet allowance at
a total cost to the Council of £186 4s. 5d.
There are many patients who, while not actually requiring economic
relief, have difficulty in supplying the extras of nutritional value for which
their medical condition calls. In such cases the Council's daily grant
of milk and eggs has proved of the highest value to health. It has
particular application to patients in the difficult period following return
from a Sanatorium, and to others with disease of longer standing who
are with difficulty maintaining at least moderately good health.
The work of the Handicraft Class run for Dispensary patients by a
voluntary Committee was continued with very good results. Miss
McFarlane and Miss Willats continued their excellent work as secretary
and teacher respectively.
A high standard of work is maintained and the members derive interest
and benefit from the work of the Class. There is, however, some difficulty
in maintaining the numbers as many members return to work, break down
or leave the district.
In previous years it has been found necessary to organise Sales of
Work to dispose of the goods made by the members of the Class. It is
not desired that such Sales should be too frequent, and during the year
successful efforts were made to dispose of all the work by private sale.
The Class remains in a satisfactory financial position, deriving its
income from the sale of goods and from various generous donations from
persons interested. In addition, the Barlow's Gift Charity Committee
has, since 1931, granted £16 annually to the Handicraft Class. Without
this help it would be difficult to carry on this useful work.