LITTLE VISITOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 10

LITTLE VISITOR.

Mother Goes Touring, .Baby Stays Behind.

Sew Zealand women liave always been proud of their Plunket Society, for its work is well known both-at home and abroad, anil countless overseas visitors have remarked upon the excellence of : the system, hut an Australian tourist who arrived in Auckland by an American ship last week excelled all other visitors in her manifestation of complete'-faith in the movement. Her conception of the Plunket Society seemed to involve tin understanding that its work included everything in connection with the management of babicrf. Her high opinion of the society was without doubt encouraging to all those who have worked to .maintain the society's reputation for good work, but nevertheless the matron of the Karitane Hospital was a little flabbergasted when the tourist, plus baby aged seventeen months, walked in and reported that baby had come to stay. _ ' / The Story. The tourist's story, it appears, went something like this. Mother and young Slichaele had set out on a tour to America and all went well until unusual weather in the Tasman did peculiar things to young Jlichaelc's , stomach. Mother was rather concerned with the problem of her little daughter's health, and so gave up her one day's sightseeing in Auckland to rectify the matter. Having heard nil about New Zealand's wonderful society for the benefit of mothers and young children, she decided that this was juat the kind of thing she was looking for. The trip to America could not be cancelled, but young Michaele obviously was not in a fit state to tackle a further nightmare of pitching and tossing. Tie Plunket Society, it seemed, was the ideal solution, and so the .sick young Jiichaele, with money for board for.a considerable time, arrived, at the Karitane'Hospital to stay. Mother was completely satisfied with the arrangement and left that, evening for an exciting tour of the United States. •: It' seems rather surprising, when one conies:to..think .of it, that Xew Zealand women have not themsehies thought of this obvious solution'- to v similar problems, •ilany unfortunate grandmother's and auVits could have been relieved from rather depressing periods of baby mindingr—if, of course, the society was in agreement. "'V|. '