PLUNKET ROOMS BUILT BY VOLUNTARY LABOUR

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27709, 13 July 1955, Page 2

PLUNKET ROOMS BUILT BY VOLUNTARY LABOUR

New Plunket rooms in Innes road, near the Mairehau school, will be officially opened by the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane. M.P.) and Mrs Macfarlane on Saturday, July 30. The building is proof of the enthusiasm, goodwill and skill of the women’s and men’s committees of the St. Albans sub-centre of the Plunket Society. The women’s committee raised the money to buy necessary materials and members of the men’s committee themselves did the work of building, painting the rooms, and preparing the grounds The official opening of the new building will be the culmination of years of work on the part of the women’s committee. As soon as the sub-branch was formed seven years ago. the committee foresaw the growing need for a new building in which to carry out the society’s work, and each year it arranged some money-making efforts to augment a building fund which it established. Since then, the large area that the rooms will serve, has become the centre of great building activity. Many new houses have been built, and the population has rapidly increased with a large percentage of young families.

The sub-branch received its first large gift from Mr L. Ackerley. who gave it the section on which the building is now erected. Encouraged by this generous gesture, the committee redoubled its efforts and decided to form a men’s committee. “We picked our men’s committee with great care,” said Mrs J. E. B. Kerr, president of the sub-committee, when describing the work later undertaken by the members.

Last June, the men began the erection of the building. None was a tradesman, but they had the valuable supervision of Mr Ackerley. who is a

builder. They worked at week-ends, on holidays, at 5 a.m. in the summer and until late at night, especially m the later stages. Not surprisingly some members were more energetic than others.

The electrical work, the plumbing, tiling, drain-laying, joinery, glaring, floor sanding, lino laying and furnishings were done by tradesmen, all of whom gave their services free of charge. The committee supplied the materials.

The building covers about 900 square feet and is divided into a waiting room, large clinic, kitchen, washroom and toilet, all in contemporary design and attractive colours. A concrete ramp leads to a terrace, surrounded by a wrought iron railing, and here mothers may rest. The second large gift for the undertaking was received by the committee from the St. Albans Plunket Mothers’ Club which had won £l5O as second prize in a local comnetition. Members decided to give this money to the Plunket sub-branch for the purchase of furnishings for the new rooms. Members of the committee whose efforts have now been crowned with success are Mrs Kerr (president), Mrs R. C. Turner (the new secretary), Mrs J. K. Haberfield (who w.as secretary until recently), Mesdames E. Emmitt. E. M. Cocks, S. Cook, F. G. K. Gilchrist, C. W. Johnson, G. Martin, R. D. Spear, C. V. Daue, R. Bebb, D. Wood, W. Sparkes, D. Costelloe, J. Lowe and B. A. Cox.

Members of the men’s committee are Messrs F. L. P. Sharp (chairman), J. E. B. Kerr, E. M. Cocks, F. G. K. Gilchrist, L. Ackerley, R. C. Turner, R. B. Spear. Dr. C. Elliot. Messrs S. Cook, R. G. Robertson, W. Cowles, C. W. Johnson and R. J. Richardson.