CHINESE CHILDREN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 191, 26 May 1934, Page 3

CHINESE CHILDREN

THEIR LOT NOT A HAPPY ONE.

ADDRESS TO PLUNKET SOCIETY.

A very interesting; address on her work as a missionary) nurse in the C.M.S. Hospital at Hangchow, China, was given to members of the .Ashburton branch of the Plunket Society at the annual meeting yesterday alternoon by Miss V. Bargrove, of New Brighton, who is in New Zealand on furlough. The speaker congratulated the branch upon its annual report and financial statement. She said if ever any members felt inclined to tire of their work, as social workers sometimes tended to do, they had but to- hear of the expressions of appreciation and gratitude from mothers who had been aided to realise the value of their work. Miss Bargrove made mention of the terrible diseases which were prevalent in China as a result of the absolute lack of sanitation and knowledge of personal hygiene among the people. Such diseases took terrible toll of the children and in many cas.es the efforts of those who were desirous of helping them were made practically negligible by tlie determination of the sufferers not to recover. The custom of shaving the babies’ heads when they were very young resulted in many being affected by the rays of the hot tropical sun. Because of numerous superstitions and careless customs such as this the babies died “like flies/’ Such conditions convinced her that there was a great need for Karitane work and she took a course of training while on furlough. Miss Bargrove referred to the filthy conditions which prevailed in Hangchow and to the prevalence of venereal diseases there, when she began her work among the children in the hospital. She said there was a deathrate Of 100 per cent, when operations were commenced. The four trained Chinese nurses had a great task for so many babies were received at the hospital. As many as 15 babies had -been found at the entrance- of the institution on one morning, most of these being- the children of parents too poor to succour them. The hospital was also used as a convenient home for illegitimate children and many other trying conditions made the work most discouraging. After two years the bospital had. to he left to the Chinese o carry on and, although it was now Y no means conducted as a Plunket home, it was still maintained. Strong public opinion had been created in favour of work of this nature and child welfare was receiving attention. # The speaker said she was still ing to have more interest taken in the welfare of the babies. A babies’ club liad been formed and at a recent meeting there had "been 50 mothers an babies, as well as many grandmothers, present. If it was found that the babies were not making the P r °S r ?®;’ they should be, instruction and advice was given and this was followed by a Bible talk. At the nursing school 70 r.ative girls were receiving a very full training and so there were excellen prospects. The gratitude of the mothers for assistance given to their babies was ati hear tuning and she felt that the best wav to approach the people witii Christian teaching was through the babies. This was a- practical way m which the value of Christianity could be demonstrated to the Chinese by the Western peoples. On the motion of Mrs C. M. Innes. Miss Bargrove was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for her talk.