PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 14

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. NEED FOR FUNDS. -TO SAVE THE BABIES." •» 1 here is no longer any doubt in tinpublic mind as to the immense'value o! the Plunket system," said Mrs. (Dr.) I'arkes. president of the Plunket Society, in addressing the annual meeting yesterday. Continuing, Mrs. I'arkes said that in ie\ievving the year's work as set fortn in the annual report, one was impressed with the continued expansion of Plunket activities and their highly satisfactory results. That the Plunket system was fully appreciated was amply proved by the rapidly increasing demand for the services of the nurses, both in the city and surrounding districts. A visit to the Plunket headquarters, where the large attendance of mothers representing all classes seeking advice regarding their babies could be seen, was most impressive. Commodious as headquarters appeared to be, the accommodation was already severely taxed. This was partly due to the ever increasing attendance at the pre-natal clinic, which formerly mas held on two half-days in each week, whereas now the clinic nurses had to be on duty every day. '1 he question ot finance had become acute and serious, more so in fact than at any other time in the history of the society. The solution could only be found by the adoption of one of the two following courses: (1) Largely increased income to meet expense; (2) reduction of staff according to means. "The latter is almost unthinkable," said Mrs. Parkes, for it simply means that we can no longer comply with the steadily increasing demand for the services of our nurses. All advance in work must of necessity be checked, numerous applications for the establishment of new centres be declined, and Plunket work in the city seriously curtailed. Such a course would be a calamity to the community, for it ha 9 come to realise more than ever the advantage of a system which has achieved such splendid results and aroused the admiration' of the whole civilised world." ' The annual cost of this service is approximately £3000. against which we receive an annual C.overnment subsidy of £1700. leaving the Auckland Society to raise by local effort £2200 every year. The purchase, alterations and furnishing of the new headquarters in'Symonds Street, cost approximately £0500. To cover this we raised a mortgage of £4000. and special donations were received amounting to £1000. leaving a liability of £1500. The immediate cause of the present shortgage is due to the diversion of this £1500 from Plunket current account, every penny we possessed. towards the purchase of this very necessary headquarters. Early last year \ve received a donation from the Auckland Savings Bank of £2000 on I condition that it was used in reduction of our mortgage. The mortgage now stands at £2000,. the interest on which is equivalent to a moderate rental. Immediately prior to March .11, 1928, the amount owing to the bank for payments due was £1300. This has been reduced by the Government subsidy of £833 received on March 28. and by the proceeds of the 1028 'Plunket Day* collection, thus leaving a credit balance on March 31 of £480. This amount, angmpnted by later receipts will, by the end of June, be practically absorbed by the usual payments. We are therefore in the unfortunate position of beinv w'Hioot the necessary funds to carry on. Immediate assistance is necessary." "An ideal solution of the difficulty would be an Endowment Fund from which contributions , could be made towards cu'-rent. cxDenses.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and last year's officers reelected.