THE PLUNKET SOCIET.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15014, 8 July 1914, Page 10

THE PLUNKET SOCIET.

, _'■■-,". conference. , ABDREgS BT THE HON. 3R. . HEATON RHODES. (ruess association TXLxe&uc] . "VraLLINGTX>N, Jury 7; ; i . ; second annual conference of the! Plunket Societry; was. opened in" the Town '.Hall -this afternoon,. Mrs Algar. WilUams (Wellington) presiding. The ; HonL R. Heatoh-Rhodes (Minister of Publia Health), Messrs .T. K. Sidey, R. Scott, Vernon Reed, T. Buxtoh, and A-. Harris, M.P.'s,were among the visitors.' I -"" '. :"■':'''.':. * ; i ;"".." .: . ■

The Hon. v E. Heaton Bhodes said he had always, taken-a keen interest hi the Society, and had • watched its growth; from small beginnings; in a private house to its present stage,when, from; tho Kaiitano Home, it sent out nurses t0..a1l parts of the Dominion. He referred to the interest shwn.by other countries {in New Zealand's' efforts to minimise infantile mortality. "A Government would, indeed, be failr ing in its duty that does"not,do what it can to rectify one of the greatest dangers of modern times, and help, 'these agencies, public!or.private, that are working in the interests of the health arid happiness' of the community," said the Minister.- *T think the 'Government can claim.to be quite in accord with the ideals of your Society, and that it has ever been ready" to give it* substantial support, and I - take thi& opportunity to mention my regret at the impression existing among'some of ycur members that my Department is in any way antagonistic to your work. t haye consideration .a scheme that.may bring -about a more speedy payment of the subsidies' than is posr'sible under the present'system, which, oil account of occasional delays, is vexatious alike to the Society, fhe Boards, and the Department. lam confident that if any misunderstandings 3ave arisen between your Society and th& Department, they are of a nature tnat enn'be. easily adjusted, and that your Society -will' bo able to co-operato with tho Department in the great work you have undertaken." '•

Dr. Truby King responded, and paid a tribute to the efforts'of the Wellington branch of the that had brought abo,<it.the annual conference. If it were tho. destiny of New Zealand t-> be the nursery of the Uritish* race in the Pacific, nothing better could be done to attain this end than to carry or the good work of the Plunket Society. . Br. T. H. A. Valintirio ' (InspectorGeneral of Hospitals) also spoke. He emphasised the fact that the Department had no over the Hospital Boards irith-. ref«rence to tho paying of subsidies. -He wished tho Society evpry success in its inference.' The business session of the conference opens to-morrow.