PLUNKET SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21050, 29 December 1933, Page 3

PLUNKET SOCIETY

APPOINTMENT OF NEW NURSING. ADVISER WELLINGTON COMMITTEE SURPRISED [THE FEESS Special Scrrtca.] WELLINGTON, December 28. The committee of the Wellington branch of the Plunket Society has issued a statement expressing a vigorous protest against the appointment of a new nursing adviser, and the circumstances in which it was made. "The appointment of Miss N. Fitzgibbon as nursing adviser to the Council of the Plunket Society has come as a complete surprise to the Wellington branch," says the statement. "The announcement that she nas been appointed to succeed 'liss Pattrick is equally surprising, for the latter was Director of Plunket Nursing, while Miss Fitzgibbon is apparently to be nursing adviser. That any appointment of a successor Miss Pattrick should be made at the preseni juncture is to say the least amazing, and can only be regarded as a challenge to the Wellington and other branches wmch have protested against Miss Pattrick's vacation of office. * "Recently the council sent a circular to all branches advising that Miss Pattrick had resigned. The Wellington branch immeuiately held a special meeting and passed a resolution protesting against the action of the council in accepting the resignation. The council was duly advise I that Wellington would take the necessary steps for the convening of a special conference of the society fo consider the whole question, and since then Wellington has circularised all the other branches. The formal requisition for the special conference will be sent to the council early in the New Year. "Reasons Not Given." "The Wellington and other branches are very much dissatisfied with the action of headquarters in Dunedin, which has not given what all branches have the clearest of rights to expect—reasons for what it has done—and it is with the view to' having the position fully disclosed that Wellington ! is moving for a special conference. In the absence of those reasons it is impossible to make any further comment just now beyond expressing profound dismay at the prospect of the Plunket Society losing Miss Pattrick's services. For many years she has been the whole soul of the Plunket movement on the nursing side, and has an honoured name far beyond New Zealand. Her outstanding ability and the confidence she enjoys, not only with the nurses but with the various branches which have learned to realise the Inestimable value of her advice, have made her one of the few almost indispensable officers of the movement. "That headquarters should not only accept her resignation, but slieht various branches by appointing her successor while an effort is being made to retain Miss Pattrick's services is almost unbelievable, and may be with serious consequences for Ehe society at a time when unanimity is most necessary. Already, in spite of the holiday season. Wellington has received letters from at least 12 branches expressing approval of its action in moving for a special conference, and'dismay at the prospect of losing Miss Pattrick. "As a member of the council of the Plunket Society," says Mrs Tythe Brown, "I can only say at the moment that the appointment of a successor to Miss Pattrick comes as a complete surprise to me. I have not been consulted, and I can only assume that the council executive (which under our constitution consists of the execuH. ve , of the br anch of the society at the headquarters town) has acted on its own initiative."

COUNCIL MAKES NO REPLY IN THE MEANTIME

(PEESS ASSOCIATION TXLXGJUIt.) DUNEDIN, December 28. In the absence of the president of the Dominion council of the Plunket Society (Mrs A. C. McGeorge), who is in Queenstown, enquiries were made of the secretary (Miss Hoddinott) tonight, and it was intimated that the council had no reply to make in the meantime with regard to the protests made by the Wellington branch relative to the appointment of a successor to Miss Pattrick.

NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

[THE FRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, December 28. Miss Fitzgibbon stated that she had had no official announcement from headquarters of the Plunket Society in Dunedin of her appointment to the post mentioned, and had no comment to make of the attitude of the Wellington branch. She said that since Miss Pattrick's resignation a month ago she had been asked to accept the post in succession to Miss Pattrick.

VISITORS TO CHRISTCHURCH

United Service Hotel: Mr and. Mrs J. B. Brisden (Brisbane). Clarendon Hotel: Mr and Mrs Brickman and Mrs Maxwell (Wellington). Stonehnrst Private Hotel: Miss N. Lloyd, Miss Ij. Bickerton, Miss U. Valkenburg, Miss D. Dingle, Miss N. Hall (Sydney), Mrs W. J. Melody ("Wellington), and Mr J. F. Frye (Dunedin). Hotel Federal: Mr and Mrs G. H. J. Hughes (Invercargill), Mr and Mrs Coffey (Wellington), Mr and Mrs IC. W. Harold (Kaikohe), Mesdames A. R. Roulston (Timaru), E. Knight, and R. F. Ward (Hokitika), J. H. Reed (Invercargill), Misses L. Reece (Invercargill), A. P. Cameron (Wellington). J. McDonald (Invercargill), Isabel and E. Knight (Hokitika). New City Hotel: Mr and Mrs W. Holland (Blenheim), Mr and Mrs C. Thomsen and Miss Ida Hamilton (Auckland).