PLUNKET WORK

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 156, 29 March 1926, Page 4

PLUNKET WORK

FETE AT LOWER HUTT. The annual fete in aid of the funds of the Hutt Plunket Society was held at Lower Hutt on Saturday afternoon. Tlie weather was ideal, and there was a large gathering. The Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, who opened tho festival, was received by the president of the society, Mrs. D. A. Ewen. Other officials were the secretary, Mrs. Hoggard, and the treasurer, airs. McCaw. The Mayor (Mr. W. T. Strand) and Mrs. Strand, Mr. D. A. Ewen, and Councillor E. W. Hunt were also present. Amongst the visitors from Wellington were Lady Hosking and Miss Waugh. Mrs. Ewen, in receiving the Minister, said thejz were aware of the deep interest the hon. gentleman took in the welfare of the society, and detailed the work of the nurse and the use that had been made of the rooms. The Ron. Mr. Young, who had made a rapid trip from Wanganui in order to be present, said he deemed it an honour to be at such a gathering. Ho apologised for the absence of the Primo Minister, who had another engagement, and conveyed the assurance of Air. Coates and Mrs. Coates of their hearty sympathy with the splendid work tho society was doing. The local nurse was evidently carrying out a wonderful work, and it was appreciated by the whole community. The Plunket Society was formed to assist mothers to obtain a knowledge of how to rear their children, and the result had been that the Dominion was in the splendid position to-day of having the lowest infantile mortality rate in tho world. (Applause.) The society' was supported by voluntary assistance and subscriptions, the nurse alone being paid. But the Government, recognising the great value of the work, assisted the Society generally throughout the Dominion by the payment of a subsidy towards the nurses’ salaries. In the case of every Plunket nurse the State paid £125 per annum towards her salary. Tho members of tho Society had taken on themselves a very serious responsibility, and fie confidently appealed to tho public to do their part in supporting what was one of the very best organisations ever brought into existence in maintaining the health of the cornmun ty, and also in saving the mothers and babies. If the Society had to rely entirely on the State for its funds the control might bo taken out of local hands and vested in tfiat of officials. That was not desirable as the State wished to encourage to the utmost all voluntary efforts making for the improvement of the social conditions of toe people. This society afforded an avenue for effective and useful social work on the part of all sections of the community. Many young people growing up into womanhood, and manhood, to-day owed their lives to the work of the Plunket Society, whose objects must commando themselves to all well-wishers of the State. (Applause.) He praised the efforts of all ■ those who were working so hard in the local branch of the Society, and also at the carnival.

The Minister subsequently visited tho Society’s rooms in the finely appointed building recently erected at the entrance to the Park. He also inspected tho new memorial baths, opened the previous week. The Plunket building, and Dental Clinic, was also largely the gift of private citizens, and Mr. Young expressed the great pleasure his visit hnd given him. and his appreciation of the public spirit, nnd generosity, of leading citizens of Lower Hutt, a spirit that would make for the establishment of a ’’ory fine town in the near future,. Business at the various stalls was very brisk d’’i'ing the whole afternoon, and the result will be n. substantial addition t > the Society’s funds. During the afternoon the Lower Hutt braes band, under bandmaster Kaye, ■yxatribated. an oxee'iKnf progranuna.