Mexborough & Swinton Times — Saturday, 19 July 1924
Denaby Hospital Demonstration
Bright Rally to Fullerton Hospital
Labour M.P.’s on Present Needs and Future Possibilities
The annual demonstration on behalf of the hospital was held at Denaby Main on Sunday. A very long procession of Sunday School children, Boy Scouts, Wolf Cubs and Girl Guides, members of Friendly Societies, the Salvation Army, trade unions and other organisations with the Denaby Ambulance and Salvation Army Bands, marched through the township. The fire brigades of Denaby and Mexborough also took part with their engines, together with members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and nurses. Several drays carrying descriptive tableaux were notable items of the procession.
The meeting in the field at the top of Tickhill Square was presided over by Mr. H. C. Harrison. The children and choir of the Denaby Parish Church, conducted by Mr. G. V. Smith, and accompanied by an orchestra, sang anthems and led the singing of the hymns. Prayer was led by the Rev. Harry Lee (Vicar of Denaby).
Mr. Harrison said they were justly proud of their hospital. That was their great advertising day, and they felt that they were advertising something worth while. Their hospital was one of the noblest things in the township. Since the last demonstration things had been done to make it even better, and further developments were in progress and contemplation. The committee wanted to make it more complete, better equipped to deal with the needs of a rising population. They needed a good hospital to reduce the periods of inactivity which made men useless as producing factors and wage earners. The committee and the organisers of that procession—which he thought as the longest they had ever had—showed splendid enthusiasm, and they could do nothing without that enthusiasm. He apologised for the absence of Major Leslie, who had to return to London after opening the new baths the previous day.
Mr. F. Hall, M.P., said the service of the hospitals was very closely related to the service of Christianity, and he wondered why such a service had been so much neglected in the past. Thousands of lives had been wasted through lack of immediate treatment. To put against the wealth of Sheffield they had the fact that only two per cent. of the income of its hospitals came from the “possessing classes.” It was impossible to be satisfied with the present administration of the hospitals, in the matter of finance. If the needs of the industrial classes could not be met in that way, they must find another way.
The present position was a disgrace to the present system, and to any state. It had been said in last week’s “Mexborough and Swinton Times” that he stated at Darfield that he was one of those who believed in the voluntary system. He wished to qualify that statement. He believed in it because it was there at the moment. But he was diametrically opposed to it if it could be replaced by State ownership. If it was impossible for the voluntary system to provide what was needed then it was the State’s duty to see to it. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
He reminded them that not one man in three in their nation could be certified as healthy and sound. As Rome and Carthage fell through the weakening of health and morals, so it was possible that their empire might fall. There were 29,000 people in this country suffering from tuberculosis, 50,000 dying annually from that disease. The number of men who came back from the war permanently disabled or diseased greatly increased the demands on the hospitals. The problem demanded unity of treatment, and they must use the best possible methods of improving the services to those who were weaker than themselves. (Applause.)
Mr. Tom Williams, M.P., said there was nothing new in hospital work except on the scientific side, and he thought that if the speakers had joined in a duet “Tell me the old old story” it would have fitted the situation. (Laughter.) That was his seventh consecutive Sunday at such demonstrations in the division, and he was booked up to August 17th. People never thought that a Member of Parliament wanted a holiday. (Laughter.)
Whatever system they favoured it must make no difference to their efforts on behalf of the hospitals. The law of averages told them that they might expect so many accidents, so many people requiring institutional treatment, during the year, and knowing the accommodation required and the financial implications, their plain duty was to meet the need. Nationally their hospital accommodation was totally inadequate, and in some districts it was adequate, thanks to the district’s own efforts.
There was something high and fine about these gatherings—something similar to the idea behind the friendly societies. It was because so many people failed to join the friendly societies that the National Insurance Act came into being. If it was necessary to have a national system for the hospitals it would come and nothing on earth could stop it. They did not have demonstrations for the Isolation Hospital at Conisborough. Payment for its maintenance was made through rents and rates and they did not complain.
One could cite many instances of voluntary efforts developing into municipal or national undertakings. They had the health nurses. They must give their present organisation all the support it needed. If they found that something more was required they must look further and develop on municipal or national lines—but never at the expense of the present institution. He appealed to them to provide the best possible means of helping those who could not help themselves. (Applause.)