PLUNKET COMMITTEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 13

PLUNKET COMMITTEES.

WORK AT NORTHCOTE. The president. Mrs. Archie Campbell, presided last night at the meeting of the Xorthcote Pluiiket Committee. Donations were made of five guineas to the funds of Auckland headquarters, and of five guineas to the Auckland Karitane Hospital. The resignation from the committee was accepted with regret of Mrs. H. H. McDonald, on account of leaving tlie district, and of Mesdame* O. J. Honeycombe and J. \V. Hollows, who have joined the Birkenhead committee.

The report of the nurse stated that normal conditions now prevailed after the restrictions observed since December in co-operation with the Health Department. Sixty-four visits had been made Jo the Xorthcote room by 30 adult-. 27 babies and seven older children, besides 41 vLsits to homes, including live new cases. The Albany and Birkdale districts had been visited. Voluntary transport was provided by Mesd.imes F. E. Cox, K. ;U. Saddington, H. H. McDonald and N. K. Stewart. It was agreed, at the request of Auckland headquarters, to continue the arrangements existing for the past six year,, until May 1, when a Pluiiket room and independent transport are to be established under the Birkenhead committee for that borough.

BIRKENHEAD. The resignation as treasurer, owing to ill-health, of Mrs. V. P. Scaletti was accepted with regret by the Birkenhead committee of the Pluiiket Society, and Mrs. Kric Chambers was appointed in her stead. The president, Mr*. KT. J. Campbell, who occupied the chair, welcomed Mrs. Brant, the representative of the Albany Women's Institute. In the absence of Mrs. L. T. Hayraan. the secretarial duties were undertaken bv Mrs. Walter Williams.

AUCKLAND BRANCH. The Auckland branch of the Plnnket Society held its committee meeting yesterday in the society rooms. Mrs. J. C. Allen, president, presided. It was decided to <<end the following remit for the consideration of the Dominion council at its next meeting: "Thet the attention of the Government be drawn to the serious repercussion which the high wages paid to girls in their 'teens was having on the supply of domestics, thus making it impossible for young mothers to get help in bringing up their children, on whom the future of the country depends." A second remit was: "That the attention of the education authorities be drawn to the practice in other countries, namely, France, of having mothercraft ee an alternative subject for the matriculation examination or similar examination as applying to girls." A report from the pre-natal department stated that a very month had been experienced. Fifty-one mothers had been seen for the first time, 155 return visits had been paid and 158 mothers were under supervision. The post-natal report showed that 155 new baby cases had been seen, 1108 home visits had been paid, and since the rooms reopened on February 8. 3008 mothers and babies hfld visited the various offices. The mothercraft section at the Truby King Karitane Hospital had had a busy month. A donation of £1 1/ was received from St. Cuthbert's Old Girls' Association. Mrs. Bruce Mackenzie, who is leaving shortly for England, was granted leave of absence, and Mrs. Selwyn Morris was elected to the committee. Those present were: Mesdames L. J. Shrubsall. E. J. Wilkinson, M. Campbell, H. K. Kirker, D. Nathan, H. A. Cooper, T. C. Webb. A. St. C. Brown. A. C. Paterson, G. M. Fowlds, M. McK. Geddes, E. Richmond, X. Duthie, R. G. Milligan, Alan Donald. A. Campbell (Xorthcote), F. Fowler (Ellersli*), J. Mclvor, T. W. Xield (Otahuhu). It was stated that the pre-natal department had experienced a very busy month.