PLUNKET SOCIETY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 149, 5 April 1933, Page 3

PLUNKET SOCIETY

METHVEN SUB-BRANCH. REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR. The annual meeting of the Methveu Sub-Branch of the Plunket Society was held in the Anglican Hall last evening. Mr J. W. M. Dart presided oyer a good attendance. Included among those present were Mrs C, M. Innes, (yice-president), Sister E. Gates (secretary) and Mrs E. M. Gabites, representing the Ashburton branch. A vote of sympathy with Mrs G. Kelly, in her illness, was carried, and the secretary was instructed to write conveying the Society's appreciation of her past services and expressing the hope that she would have a speedy recovery. The report stated that the progress of the sub-branch had been steady, although financially the year had been a difficult one. Subscriptions had not come in as freely as usual. The committee was very energetic, and during the year organised a number of functions for the purpose of raising funds. A. series of progressive euchre evenings was run very successfully and with other functions helped the finances considerably. Mrs Renai organised a bridge evening, and this was not only very enjoyable but also of profit to the sub-branch. Dr. Telford (Health Officer at Christchurch) inspected the new rooms, which he praised for their excellence. Nurse Rawlings now visited iMethven fortnightly and her visits both to the homes and the rooms were mucii appreciated. The nurse expressed appreciation of the new rooms and maintained unfailing interest in her work. In July, Mrs D. Chambers rebigned her position of lion, secretary owing to ill-health, and Mrs N. Crooks was appointed, with Miss E. Woods as assistant. Thanks were due to Mr H. E. A. Lock for erecting, gratis, the boundary fence on the new property, also to Messrs W. J. Cooksley and E. F. Ward for continuing to provide luncheon for the nurse on her visit to Methyen, and to the public for their support and the newspapers for publicity given to the work. The nurse's annual .report was as follow: Visits paid to Methyen 40, homes visited 221, new cases 41, visits to rooms 1077 (adults 835, babies 093, pre-school age 249); naturally-fed 32, artihcially-fed 4, pre-natal care 5; 89 per cent, of thf- babie« were naturally fed. Referring to the nurses report, the Committee in its report stated that there had been no falling off in the visits either to the rooms or homes. In January last it was considered that, owing to financial reasons, visits should be lortnightly instead of weekly, and it was gratifying to know that the work was as progressive as ever. Under the old conditions it would have been difficult to have carried on ; but the accommodation of the new rooms had been a great assistance. The balance-sheet showed receipts (including balance brought forward of £l4 7s Id) £66 0s 6d; expenditure £O6 14s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £9 5s Bd. The statement of assets and liabilities showed a surplus of assets of £374 Os 2d. The liabilities included £67 18s 6d owing to the Ashburton Branch, and after discussion it was agreed to make a special effort to pay this off during the coming year. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mrs J. Wootton.; vice-pre-sident, Mesdames E. A. Bland, J. Watson, and H. Reid; hon. secretary, Mrs J. T. Goodwin, junr.; hon. treasurer, Mr R. F. Renai; committee, Mesdames V. Wright, E. J. Watson, W. Morgan, W. J. Cooksley, W. Boucher, A. Lawrence, H. E, A. Lock, A. Thomson, junr.; hon. auditor, Mr H. Green; delegates to Ashburton Branch, the president and secretary. . Mrs Reid, the, retiring president voiced her appreciation of the assistance she had received from the Committee during her term of office, about ten years. Mrs Innes expressed regret* that Mrs Rundle (president of the Ashburton Branch) was unable to be present. She congratulated the sub-branch on the way it had come through the year. The one matter for regret was that the nurse's visits had been made fortnightly. Owing to the financial position, this was unavoidable, but she hoped that tho weekly visits would be resumed at the first opportunity. Sister Gates gave a short report on the Conference in Christchurch last month, which proved most interesting and informative. A vote of thanks and appreciation was passed to the Ashburton representatives for their attendance. A vote of thanks to the chairman was carried by acclamation. After the meeting a dainty supper was provided by the ladies of the committee. .-. :