PROTECTING INFANT LIFE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3011, 23 February 1917, Page 3

PROTECTING INFANT LIFE

PLUNKET SOCIETY CONFERENCE #

The Conference. of the •β-ojal Now Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children was continued yesterday. Mrs. Algar Williams presided.

A lengthy report by the sub-com-mittee deputed to revise the rules was approved and adopted. A rote of thanks to the committee was carried. With respect to. the registration of the rules, Mrs. Arrowsmith (Taihape) was empowered to agree on behalf of the conference to any amendments or alterations asked for by tho Registrar. A glowing tribute from a Wellington mother to the work of tho society was read by Mrs. Williams in the course of the morning. A sub-committee was set up to revise, where necessary, the wording of remit brought before the conference. Remits. The following remits were adopted:— From Dunedin branch. —"That it be a recommendation to the Central Council to consider the employment of a travelling Plunket nurse who could, by coming into contact with all the Plunket nurses in turn, keep -them an courant with any advances made, and also help the committees to extend the society's mission in their respective districts.

From Wanganui branch.—"That it be a recommendation to the Central Council to take into consideration the employment of a capable, tactful, high-ly-trained Plunket nxrrsq, who would keep in intimate touch with Karitane Harris Hospital, to visit all the branches from time to time, and confer with and help the committee and resident Plunket nurses regarding tho society'e work and its extensions; the salary of this travelling nurse to be defrayed by contributions from all the branches."

From Wellington branch;—" That the hospital boards be approached -where expedient or necessary and aeked for permission to lallow a Plunket nurse to attend Hie nospital daily to supervise the making and grading of humanised milk for delicate babies."

Some additional remits were discussed at the evening session. .-.■■■

The Dmnedin branch' recommended that representations should be made to the Minister of Education with a view to securing to the fullest extent for infants in'licensed homes the advantage conferred, on the more fortunate children of New Zealand through the agency of the Plunket Society and its nurses. '

Wellington delegates stated that there was no lack of co-operation/ between the Plunket nurses and the foster mothers in this city. *'

Dr. Truby King stated that in Dunedin humanised milk,was euppliedto institutions and licensed! homes at about half the cost of ordinary milk, but apparently there wero influences at work against the society. Very many of the foster mothers bought inferior milk at a higher cost. It was a fact that parents in Boston paid 2s. 6d. per day for humanised milk, which would cost 3d. in Dunedin. He hoped that time would bring all the.foster mothers to a reasonable point of view. /% 'i Another recommendation from Dunedin was that each branch of the society should organise a band of volunteers! .to ■ assist mothers with young families, either by taking the children out or giving general assistance in the home. ; ■

The suggestion was supported by several delegates, who said there was a very wide field of work awaiting members who would give some part of their time to assist mothers with young families. Mention was made of the need for provision for the care of _' young children ivhile mothers were inmates of the St. Helens Hospitals.

The recommendations were adopted.

After dealing with other matters the conference adjourned until this morning. . ' ''■ '