PLUNKET SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 255, 22 July 1920, Page 8

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

MANY REMITS CONSIDERED

The conference of the Royal New Zealand Society for tho Health of Women and Children was continued yestorday. Mrs, W. F. Maßsey occupied the chair. There wag considerable discußfllon upon the following remit, brought forward by Mrs. Bloomfield (Auckland): —"That the control of licensed homes bo placed under the Public Health Department, and fail Ing this, that a nurse fully qualified in the cave and feeding of infants bo appointed to visit those' homes and trive advice. That we feel Btrongly that the offer mado by the Central, Council at different times to the successive Ministers of Education to train free of charge any women whom the Department thought suitable, had not been accepted. We ask the Central Council to (Continue its efforts in this direction."

The remit was brought forward because of evidence given, and a rider added by the Coroner, at an inquest concerning the death of an infant from malnutrition, in a registered homo in Auckland. Dr. Wilkins (Director of School Medical Services) said that the Education Department was anxious to do the best for tho children, and recognised that the visiting nurses should be Plunket nurses., The Department was working with this end in view.

Mr. Beck (head of the Education Department's infant welfare work) gave an outline of the work in regard to children <n licensed homea. During the past 18 months the'' work had. been greatly ex tended, particularly in Auckland, the object of the Department being to have nurses (fully trained in the feeding of infants and in child welfaro senerally) visiting these homes. Mr. Beck quoted figures to show -that the death rate had diminished among boarded-out children during tho past few years.

Dr. Truby King said that this remit was not brought forward with the idea that any benefit would accrue to the children from the transfer from one department to another, but with the object of securing tho right conditions of feeding, etc. Each woman authorised by the State to take children into her home should be visited by ono who knew all about chil dren, and she should regard her work just as a nurße in a hospital regarded the uniis in her charge. In the light of the foregoing Information the remit was withdrawn.

Training of Plunket Nurses. Mrs. Bristed (Christchurch) brought forward the following remit:—"That in view of tho unlimited demand for Plunket nurses the Central Council authorises every Karitane baby hospital in New Zefr land to train l'lunket nurses, tho council to appoint the examiner in every case." Mrs. Bristed explained that there were plenty of babies in the Karitane hospitals, but not enough nurses.

Dr. Truby Kin? said that tho srentei the number of nurses who were taken info tho Karitane hospitals, tho iroater would be tho need of further funds foi this educative work. Another consideration was that at the present timo they would not be able to get tho medical staffs neccssary for training nurses. The remit waß amended to read as fnl lows:—"That in view of tho unlimited demand for Plnnket nurses, every New Zealand Karitane baby hospital be empowered to givo a trained maternity nureis the' first three moflthß of her Plunket training. the last three months and the ex aminatlon to bo "iven at the Dunedin Karitane Harris Hospital." In this form the remit waa carried. From Auckland carao the following:— 'That a remit be sent to the peneral conference to tfho effect that nurses should bo paid no less than £3 10s. per week." This was amended to read "£4 a week." Central Otago proposed :-"That Plunket nurses should not have thpir training fee refundod, but it refunded, some better scheme should be deviead whereby all branches should be taxed alike. Under the present system some branches are likely to have to pay a refund of training tees every two years or so, and some branches uo not pay any." Dr. King said they could not offer too much inducement to get the best possible mu women to take up Plunket nursing. The remit was amended in its first part to provide that the nurses should have their training fees refunded. As for the other proposal, it was decided that tba Central Council Bhould bo approached bv the different branches, and that its rul--1 m rc S nrd to refunds should be i pheld. Wellington proposed that the conference take into consideration the advisability of establishing <i superannuation fuud for tho nurses.

As this Question will be coming bofor© Parliament it was derided not to so on with It.

Tho following remit was brought forward by Central Otago: "We consider that when vacancies occur it would be helpful to nurses if tbe Central Council would publish ivith the report of their monthly meetings such vacancies, thus enabling nurses to apply for a position should they wish to do so.". Remits from New Plymouth and Wellington covered practically the samo ground, and after some discussion it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Central Council. Relieving Nurses. A communication from Petone read: "Aa there appears a difficulty in obtaining relieving Plunket nurses when required, this committee wishes to draw the attention of the conferencc to the, matter, and respectfully desires it to consider the advisability of appointing one (Plunket) relieving nurse to every twelve Plunket nurses employed." l The conference amended: the proposal to provide for the appointment of one Plunket relieving nurse to every ten Plunket nurses. From Blenheim came the following:—l "Our committee would be glad if the conference would urge upon Government tho necessity of an increase in the subsidy to th society for Its work in connection with infant welfare." The proposal was carried. Advioe to Mothers. Dunedin proposed: "That further stepn be taken to promote the adoption and deßsemination of sound, consistent, uniform, and authoritative advico aB to tho principles and practicc which would conduce to the best growth and development of offspring, both before and aftec child: birtn. (2). That an appeal be made 1o the public authorities with a view to ensuring that a fcopy of the Government pamphlet 'Tho' Expectant Mother and Baby's First Month' shall be sent at once to every married woman in "the Dominion under 40 years of age; that thereafter a copy shall be posted by each Registrar of Births to every newly-married woman in hlB district three months after marriage; and that copies of the pamphlet shall be available freo on application to the Registrar by nurses and others." Tho latter of theßO two remits, which covered one from Gisborni> to the Baine / effect, was amended to read that tho Government pamphlots mentioned be sent to every married woman in tho Dominion under 35 years of age, inßtcad of 40 years. Mrs. Earlo proposed, and it was agreed: "That the Government bo asked to print 10,000 copies of the pamphlet in question for distribution to the married women in the Dominion under 35 yoarß of age. A further remit from Dunedin was: "That special efforts be made to educate the public with regard to the damago to health and tho .danger to life.of allowinfants to sleep in bed with their parents; that the death of a baby through overlying be regarded M homicide, and be punishable by law. —The Wellington Society strongly objected to the r J l £Ltt ®r part of the remit, and upon Dr. Truby Kiner's proposal it oniittcu, Marton proposed: "That it bo an mstruction to all Plunket nurses and branch secretaries that children's names should not bo removed from the society s lists at tho age of two years; that on the con trary, they should, as. far as possible, ha kept under supervision until they «acli school age."—The remit was carllA'Ohrißtchurch Tcmit was: Kfiritano nurse while on duty, whether indoors or out, wear a distinctive ui iform, to bo chosen at this conference. -It was Villained that the uniform "was for outdoor wear, -and would be compulsory. It wftß suggested that it be srey :n co o with grrcen facings, and ah- button to efrm'k This was carried. Nelson proposed: "That the-conference decide upon a lull uniform for Plunket nurses, and that a Bub-comNittee .be Bet Tin to procure nil neccßßary parts wholesale, and to establish depots in the rms Jliief towns, wliero nurseß could obtain any article desired and drcp.B material hv the yard at cost j>ricc."-It was decided that a sub-commlttco be set up to meet 'again this morning. •