300 Attend Plunket Conference

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32099, 22 September 1969, Page 3

300 Attend Plunket Conference

More than 300 women, including delegates and visitors from Waimate, Greymouth and Hurunui, attended the recent Canterbury provincial conference of the Plunket Society, held at Kaiapoi. The conference was officially opened by the Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr H. O. Hills).

The Dominion president (Mrs H. J. Ryburn) told the conference that the society had gained strength, raised more finance and had become better organised since the last conference, two years ago.

The Plunket Society was probably the largest welfare organisation in New Zealand, with an estimated 15,000 women working on committees as well as many hundreds of men assisting in various capacities, she said: The society’s concern for the walfare and health of New Zealand parents and small children necessitated planning and coordination for efficiency.

“The family unit is not regarded as important, and we would like to fight this to the last ditch,” she said. “The family is the most important factor in a child’s upbringing. Our job is much more than raising finance. Itereal value is in the field of preventative medicine, to guard the health of the younger generation.” The chairman of the Plunket Karitane Hospital Board, Christchurch (Mr J. B. Hay) said he would not be seeking re-election next year. Tributes were paid to him by Mrs Ryburn, on behalf of the soci-

ety, and by the Director of Medical Services (Dr N. C. Begg). It was decided that the Consumer Council should be asked to investigate the retail price of hand knitting yarn owing to the need to promote the use of wool for babies’ clothing. Mrs Ryburn said a public inquiry into clothing for infants and young babies, set up by the Minister of Customs would be held in October, and the society had been invited to give its viewpoint on standards and sizing. It was pro-

posed to make strong representations for the importation or manufacture in New Zealand of woollen garments for children. A remit was adopted giving publicity to the pitfalls of walker4rainers and advocating the use of . playpens at an early age as an alternative. Dr Begg agreed on the danger aspect of trainers and said they probably hindered walking ability and the learning of balance and equilibrium. Referring to the availability of woollen children’s clothing, he said it would be better not to provide protection if manu-

facturers could not cope with particular areas of demand. Speaking of his visit to America earlier this year. Di Begg said that a well-known New York pediatrician. Dr Virginia Apgar, had said that a Plunket Society was needed in the United States. This was an indication of the wide interest overseas in the society. The following members were elected to the Dominion council:—Mesdames G. H. Grigg (Hororata), J. M. Hennessy (Waimate), N. W. Peryer (Christchurch), W. Gillespie (Greymouth).