PLUNKET SOCIETY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10415, 5 June 1925, Page 5

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ASHBURTON BRANCH.

! THE ANNUAL MEETiWG. RECORD OF PROGRESS. The annual meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Plunket Society was held this afternoon in St. Stephen's Schoolroom. There were about 70 people present. The Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith) presided. The president (Mrs J. S. 'Laing), in her report, stated that the year had been a very progressive and happy one. The country sub-branches were becoming firmly established and practically self-supporting. They were a great source of strength and encouragement. The sympathy and good-will that existed between town and country had been evidenced by the loyal voluntary support given by the sub-branches to affairs of other than purley local interest. They had given generous donations toward the Mother's Cottage (Karitane), Ashburton County having now sent £SO toward that cause. The half-yearly conferences were going to prove of great help to the work, and it was with great pleasure that a nomination from each sub-branch to the general committee was received. On behalf of the committee, cordial appreciation of the splendidly loyal and conscientious work of tlie nurses, secretary, and treasurer, was expressed.

; J The Annual Reports. The report on the work carried out in the town presented the following figures:—Visits paid to homes 1317, : visits paid to office (3318, (adidts 3103, children 3215), new cases 437 (adults 230, children 207), naturally fed 167, supplemented 11, artificially fed 29, expectant mothers 11. It was encouraging each year to find' the old prejudices against the Plunket Society dying out, the report continued. The older mothers as well as the younger ones appeared to be anxious for advice. The society had a great number of mothers who faithfully endeavoured to follow the advice to the letter, and it appreciated their untiring efforts for the welfare of their children. The Society was thankful to state that the majority of the babies under its care were naturally fed. This involved the health and habits of the mothers, not only during the nursing, but during the pre-natal months. Help and advice in this direction was the most important part of its work, and any expectant or nursing mother could obtain these at any time, by personal interview or by letter. Some mothers thought as soon as their babies were over 12 months, they could stop going to the society for advice, but the aim was to prevent lovely, carefully fed, first year babies from developing into miserable, thin, bow-legged children, as second yeaa- babies getting on to mixed feeding had still various dangers to be avoided and overcome. Most children after 14 months did best on three meals a day, but these must be good and wholesome, and properly prepared. Healthy children held a promise of healthy vigorous adult years. The re- ; port thanked the doctors for their help and interest in the work.

The annual report of the work done in the country districts by Miss A. E. Nelson was as follows:—Visits to rooms 1790 (adults 883, babies and children 907), new cases 150 (adults 77, babies 73) } expectant mothers 4, breast fed babies 50, breast fed and supplemented 8, artificially fed 11, older childretn I, visits to homes &4. Over 110 visits were paid to six out-stations, to Methven and Rakaia 25 each, Mount Somers and Mayfield 20 each. Hinds was visited once a month, and Coldstream similarly. The one great difficulty in the out-stations, which were all country districts,, was that so many mothers had too much to do. They would not, or could not, take the uecessiry time to breast feed their babies. This was noticed more especially during the busy when they gave baby a bottle in his cot, and rushed on with the extra, work. For this reason many babies were weaned during the very early month, the supply tailing for no other reason than the want of regular nursing. The Nurse expressed her thanks for the kindness and hospitality shown her at all the out-stations.

The report of the treasurer (Mr A. Bushell) stated that the year opened with a credit balance of £177 lis lOd, and £2OO on fixed deposit, making a total of £377 lis lOd; and ended with a credit balance of £260 8s 2d, with £IOO c*i fixed deposit, a total of £360 8s 2d. After writing down the furniture and office equipment 10 per cent., and valuing the remaining assets on a safe basis, the assets exceeded the liabilities by £l6O 4s 3d, last year's excess having been £474 Os 3d. In view of the extensions of the operations of the branch last year, this must be considered very satisfactory. The subbranches paid £4B in subscriptions. A concert given in October gave a net return of £lB 16s 6d. Thanks were due to Mrs H. J. Chapman, who organised the entertainment, and to those who «-avp their services. The special effort on "'Daffodil Day," when the subbranch committees gave a great deal of help, showed a net return of £143 19s Id The Society had donated £25 to the "Mothers' Cottage Building Fund" at Christehurch. The work of the Society in the County was extending each year, carrying with it increased expenditure, and thanks were due to the public, to whom the Society had never appealed in vain.

(Proceeding.) THE METHVEN BRANCH. ANNUAL APPEAL FOR FUNDS. A special meeting of the Methven branch of the Plunkct Society was held on Tuesday afternoon. There were present: Mrs H. Reid (in the chair). Mosdames Shearer. Tooley, FairbninCallaghan, Elliott, Watson, Chambers, and Bland. An apology was received from Mrs Jessep. Arrauseiiu'iit« were made fo- " Paddy' : market." i ! :»' annual appeal in aid of funds for the branch, to ' v held in <he Anglican Mali.on Jure 2-'« It has Iteen dec id ;! to arrange '{■■ r» weekly vi«it of in Phinket Nvand this nrrangomeni will «oon be ■ • operation.

THE MAYFIELD BRANCH. The Mayfield branch of the Plunket Society met in the Band Hall yesterday. There were present:—Mosdames Paterson, Scown, Wardell, Llovd, Owers, Murdoch, Co:rbett. Mcllwraith, Dellow, Mably, and Miss Cbrbett. Apologies were received from Mrs S. Baxter and Mrs White. Mrs Wardell was elected a member of the committee. It was decided to hold the annual fancy dress dance at the end of August. The question of Mayfield being an independent branch was brought up, but though the idea was favoured, no suggestions effecting this were offered. Arrangements were made in regard to ral -'in v at the dog trials. Mr Barton donated a sheep for a •<■ •' 'ht■• -• ..<"«dug competition, and the or, -tr.vy yas instructed to write and