NEWS FOR WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 2

NEWS FOR WOMEN

PLUNKET SOCIETY YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED The committee considered that the highlight of the year’s work had been the increasing demands made upon the services of the Plunket nurses by the community, states the annual report of the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the society next week. Last year, the report continues, there had been a record total pf 3266 new baby cases, but this year the number had increased to 3491. In addition, many pre-school age children still required supervision. For many years it had been necessary to appoint new nurses at frequent intervals because of the expansion of the branch, and the incoming committee would commence its work with the knowledge that its staff would need still further additions if the same high standard of work was to be done during the coming year. The committee of voluntary workers had begun the year 1947 with a deficit of £Bl6, and because of the new salary scale for nurses and higher administration costs, the deficit had

increased to £822 14s 2d for the branch at the end of the financial year, and £2473 10s 8d for Karitane Hospital. The voluntary effort had not kept sace5 ace with the expansion of the work i the district, and the committee must now explore every possible avenue for funds to balance its budget. A cabaret, a raffle, a jumble sale, a Sunday concert, a mannequin parade, and the Violet Day appeal held during the year had raised £1743 12s 9d. The death of Lady Hosking, the first president of the Plunket Society in Dunedin, had reminded members of the splendid work she had done in guiding the pioneers of the movement, the report continues. Mrs B. H. Gilmour, president of the Christchurch branch for the last three years, had stated that she would not stand for nomination as president this year. Great appreciation had been expressed of her untiring work and of her cheerful, willing service to the branch.

Other Reports Mrs Alfred Bunz’s Karitane sewing circle had made the following articles for babies at Karitane Hospital during the year: four dozen dresses, six dbzen bibs, six cases, six dozen Small sheets, three pairs of leggings, four woollen toys, 19 hot-water bottle covers, three dozen woollen vests, 24 flannel bootees. 24 flannel mittens, six dozen cellular sheets, and 65 cellular shirts.

The report of the charge sister at the Plunket Rooms, which, with reports of sub-branches, is included in the annual report, state that the following statistical summary would give an idea of the work undertaken by the Christchurch branch of the society in the care of mothers, babies, and pre-school children:—new baby cases —1947: 3491; 1946: 3266; increase. 225. Home visits—l 947: 14,233; 1946: 9906; increase: 4327. Combined attendance of babies and pre-school children at the rooms were—l 947: 52,878; 1946: 46,893. Increase in 1947: 5985. In April the mobile unit had extended its round to include Wainoni and Upper Riccarton, and in August it had included St. Martins.

The tutor sister for the mothercraft section had had a busy year teaching mothercraft to primary school children, high School children, Girl Guides, and expectant mothers, individually and in groups. The Annual report of the Lady King Karitane Hospital states that the number of nurses in training at the beginning of January was 35, and the present nominal roll was 31. For the year ending March 31. 1948, the average number of occupied beds was: babies, 310.91; mothers. 97.90. The number of admissions totalled 245 mothers and 394 babies, and the number discharged was 248 mothers and 394 babies.

OBITUARY MRS SUSAN MCFARLANE (P.A.) DUNEDIN, July 22. Mrs Susan McFarlane died to-day at the age of 102. She was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital three weeks ago and, after a temporary improvement, relapsed yesterday. She was born at Arbroath, Scotland, and lived for a time at Perth. She arrived in New Zealand in 1878 with her husband, who died many years ago. Mrs McFarlane met two other centenarians, Mrs Eleanor E. Nielsen, of Auckland, and Mrs G. Williamson, of Waikouaiti, during the Otago centennial celebrations. LEGACY OF £lOOO GIFT TO TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION Under the will of Mr O. H. Barker, formerly of Geraldine, who died about two months ago, the sum of £lOOO has been bequeathed to the South Island Tuberculosis Association (Northern Group). Inc. This is the first legacy or large donation received by the association, which was formed in Christchurch about three years ago and has gradually been increasing the volume and scope of its activities. The newly formed association absorbed the long-established Sanatorium Service Society, a small group which for many years had helped to provide clothing and small comforts for patients in the Cashmere Sanatorium. It continues its work under the association. The association, which attends to the needs of patients and former patients of the Sanatorium and their dependants, helps to secure employment for discharged patients and to improve the housing conditions of sufferers from tuberculosis. It is affiliated with a similar association in Britain and to the New Zealand Federation of Tuberculosis Associations, Which was formed last year. ENGAGEMENT Mr and Mrs W. B. Johnstone (The Warren, Oxford) have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their only daughter, Shirley Valmai, to Ronald James, second son of Mr and Mrs S. T. Dailey, Oxford.

QUAINT CUSTOMS OF PARAGUAY ADDRESS TO TRAVEL CLUB The Paraguayans were very religious, but probably because many. of them were not in direct contact with the churches they continued a lot of their old superstitious practices, merging them with their religion, said Mr Paul Cox (Paraguay) in an address to members of the Canterbury Travel Club at the D.I.C. tearoom yesterday morning. For instance, he said, the lid of a coffin containing an adult person vras never nailed down until the coffln. was ready to be lowered into the grave. This, it was thought, gave the person’s soul time to escape. When a small child died people aid not mourn, except the parents of the child; it was an occasion for a fiesta. The child was dressed in its best .clothes and could be seen by the guests who sang find danced at the fiesta. The Paraguayans were very musical, but their songs were rather sad, probably because the people had had

a sad sort of life, continued Mr Cox. From 1865 to 1870 Paraguay had been more or less at war with its three neighbouring countries:—Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The people ad fought almost to the last man and were badly beaten. After the war there were seven or eight women to every man of the population, and the women had to carry on the work of the country for many years. In 1932 the country had another war—this time with Bolivia —which lasted four years. The women Were long suffering, and seldom complained of their lot. It was doubtless because of all the troubles caused by wars that their songs were sad.

Last year there had been a revolution which lasted for seven months. It was really a civil war, with 4000 to 5000 fully-armed men fighting on either side. The three or four months after the war had been even more chaotic, because revolution rule was lifted, and there was no authority to keep order for several miles round. It was not until about the end of last December that he had been able to restore orch r on the estancia, or ranch of one and a half million acres, of which he was manager, said Mr Cox. There were nearly 4000 miles of fencing on the estancia, and much of it fiad to be repaired. Transport by Boat

Paraguay was very much behind the times, but the people did not seem to want to progress. He thought they would probably like to, out thought it would be difficult. Besides limousines on the streets one might see women, smoking long cigars, riding donkeys to market, their long skirts mounted on two or three petticoats. Paved or concrete roads were practically non-existent. There was one paved road, made, by the Americans during the war, bdt it was only about 130 miles long. The main transport was by boat on the Paraguay river, which was about 1900 miles long. Bullock waggons, hitched to three pairs of bullocks, were still used, and it was a very picturesque sight to see a troop of waggons, said Mr Cox. The old custom of drawing the waggons up into a ring for the night was still followed. The drivers strummed their guitars before retiring and again on rising, which might be 3 o’clock in the morning. One went to bed &nd awoke to the strains of the guitar. The Paraguayans were very proud people, but once one had gained their confidence they were very hospitable and very loyal. To live in the country it was absolutely necessary to learn Spanish, thoroughly. There were very few purebred Spaniards; the people were mostly a mixture of Spanish and Paraguay Indian. They were bi-lingual, but the foreigner found the Paraguay-Indian language very hard to master. The Paraguayan women had very good figures, probably because of their habit of carrying heavy weights on their heads. Their sense of balance was almost incredible, said Mr Cox. A bottle of medicine purchased at the chemist’s would probably be carried on the head.

It is advisable to place your order now at Ethne’s, Hereford Court, or the Ethne Tosswill Cake Shop, 123 Cashel street, for Fruit Cakes to be posted to your friends overseas in time for Christmas. Advt. AN INTERESTING STORY. Many years ago, right here in Christchurch, an enterprising firm established a Dominion-wide reputation in exclusive neckwear for ladies. It was Beaths. Right down through the days of plenty and the dreary years of war and shortages, they have treasured that good name and held it. Beaths Fancy Department will be a centre of visitors for Grand National visitors—it always is. Flattering new neckwear styles lend new neckline drama to the “new look” silhouette —frothy, frilly, lacey things in daintv georgettes, silks, and nets. The Blousettes are prettily intriguing. These will stretch a few basic costumes into a diversified smart wardThat’s a good point, isn’t it? You 11 love inspecting Beaths absolutely exclusively designed neckwear. Advt. FETHER-FLAKE NOW IN BETTER SUPPLY Ernest Adams, Ltd., are now m the position to announce that a marked improvement in the supply of Fether-Flake enables housewives to purchase more of this perfect puff pastry. This means you can get more Fether-Flake more often. Many housewives, who in the past have been unable to obtain Fether-Flake as often as they would have liked, will now welcome this improvement in the supply. Fether-Flake is perfect, ready-made pastry that requires only t to be rolled out, cut to shape, filling added, left 15 minutes (longer in cold kitchen), then baked. No wonder more and more housewives rely on time and labour-saving Fether-Flake. Made from only the best and purest ingredients, Fether-Flake is obtainable from all Ernest Adams, Ltd., Cake Shops and Agencies. Advt.