PLUNKET SOCIETY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 190, 25 May 1934, Page 3

PLUNKET SOCIETY

WORK OF ASHBURTON BRANCH.

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, The annual meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Plunket Society was held this afternoon and a comprehensive reyiew of the year's work was pre-'; sented. The annual report stated that the year had been an interesting and successful one. The work of the nurses maintained its high standard. In comparison with the notifications of births forwarded by the Begistrar, the number of babies coming under the nurses' nave was an indication of the mothers' realisation of the assistance and instruction in mothercraft as given by the Plunket nurses. A most successful jumble shop was opened weekly during the greater part of the year by Mesdames B. B. Newton and F. W. Seldon, It Avas well patronised, and the committee had assisted by collecting goods of all kinds. The time had when h, new car was an. urgent necessity, and after due consideration one was purchased. Daffodil Day (the annual effort) was held in September, and was enjoyed by all concerned, besides being the most successful financially ever held. In December, at the close of the meeting held at Mrs Seldon's house, a social eybning was held to say good-bye to Nurse B. Rawlmgs, who was leaving on transfer to Greymouth. Members paid a warm tribute to the splendid work of Nurse Rawlings, especially mentioning her pioneering work in the outstat.ions. She was presented with an attache case from the vice-presidents and committee. Opportunity was taken to welcome Nurse Pritchett, who had replaced Nurse Rawlings. The work of the nurses was very much appreciated throughout the County. Some changes had been made in their itinerary, reducing the car mileage without any loss of efficient service to the country mothers. In her report the treasurer <,Miss E. W. Pilbrow) stated that the year opened with a credit balance of £402 3s lid, and closed with a credit balance of £313 14s 6d; Assets exceeded liabilities by £1513 10s 6d, as against £1441 18s 7d last year. Daffodil Day was one of the most successful efEorts in the records of the Ashburton branch, the funds benefiting to the extent of £204 0s 4d. Cookery books sold this year showed a, net profit at £l2 12s Gel. There were still 44b copies to bo disposed of. In order to assist the sales, the selling price had been reduced to Is 6d per copy. Hie sum of £7O, representing the amount raised at the Longbeach garden party held last year, had been placed on fixed deposit at the bank. This sum would be used, when required, to help to reduce the mortgage on the building. Nurses' Visiting Returns.

The nurses' report stated that there had been less visits to the homes, as the mothers were being encouraged to come to the rooms earlier, and in the country districts a movement had been commenced to form small groups, to save car mileage, and so cut down running expenses, and also to give more 'time for necessitous cases. Three babies had been in Karitane Hospital, 1 and were making good progress. Several Karitane nurses had been employed in the district. In the town, visits to homes numbered 1576, while visits to rooms were: Adults -1462, babies 2863, pre-school children 740; a total of 5065. New cases were: Breast-fed 100, breast-fed and complemented 8, artificially-fed 17, mothers advised re pre-natal care 4; a total of 129. Forty letters of advice written. Figures for the country were:—Visits to homes 1298; visits to rooms, adults 1250, babie's 958, pre-school children 331; total 2539. New cases: Breast-fed 122 breast-fed and complemented 16, artificially-fed 11, mothers advised re pre-natal care 5; total 154. Visits for the year ended March 31 totalled 10,004 and new cases (babies) 283. Of the latter 85.8 per cent, were wholly or partially breast-fed, ami of the births notified 92.3 per cent, were under the nurses' care. The report of the Methven SubBranch stated that the committee had worked well, organising a series of euchre tournaments, which were well patronised and showed a substantial credit balance. A queen carnival the big effort for the year, proving highly successful. The nurse's visits to the district were '26. Visits to homes totalled 120, visits to rooms, adults 377, babies 302, older children J'72; a total of 751. New' cases were:— Breast-fed 18, breast-fed and complemented 3, artificially-fed 3, mothers advised re pre-natal care 1; a total of 25 The credit balance was £lO7 10s Id', compared with £9 5s Sd last year. Assets mgio £527 10s 7d and liabilities nil. . There had been 49 visits to the district, said the report of the Rakaia sub-branch, and 1210 visits to the rooms. Visits to homes totalled 6 and new cases 28. The financial statement disclosed, a credit of £56 4s 3d. Figures for the Mayfield sub-branch were:— Visits to district 24, to homes 145, to rooms 189, new cases 20, credit balance £27 8s Od. For Coldstream the statistics were:—Visits to district 12, to homes 185, to rooms 52, new cases 10, credit balance £lB lis 3d. The Tinwald sub-branch's report showed a credit of £l3 13s 9d and 12 visits to the district, 168 visits to homes ami W new cases. Other sub-branches presented the following information in their reports:—Eiffelton : Visits to district 22, to homes 309, new cases 19, credit balance £ll 0s lOd. . Hinds: Visits to district 12, to homes 98, to rooms 100, new cases IS, credit balance £26 9s 3d. Staveley: Visits to. district 24 to homos 106, new cases 9, credit balance £1 16s od. Barrhill-Lauriston: Visits to district 12, to homes 124, to rooms 79, new cases 8, credit balance £34 4s Bd. Mount Somers: Visits to district 12, to homes 37, to rooms 157, new cases 8, credit balance £29 19s 2d.