WELLINGTON WOMEN AND THEIR WORK

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 169, 12 April 1930, Page 22

WELLINGTON WOMEN AND THEIR WORK

DR. PLATTS-MILLS.

(Medical Referee, Public Service.)

Dr. Platts-Mills graduated from the Otago Medical School at a time when public opinion had to be educated to the fact that medicine is a suitable profession for women. A number of well-known doctors were fellow-students, as also was Lady Sidey (Miss Baxter, of Dunedin), who, however, gave up study before the final examinations. ■

The doctor's first visit to Wellington was as medical officer in charge of a group of mental patients being transferred by the s.s. Tutanekai from Otago to Wellington. House surgeons not being available for women at that time, her early training in the work and ideals of the general practitioner was as assistant to Dr. W, E. Stevens, of Kurow. Otago. She then came to Wellington, being the first woman to practise the profession of a doctor here. She allied herself with such existing organisations as the Protection Society and the W.C.T.U., and can.look back over the early struggles of a number of movements for the welfare of women and children. She was one of the early presidents of the Plunkct

Society. - At the outbreak of the war Dr. PlattsMills was appointed by the Hospital Board house physician to the children s ward, succeeding Dr. Agnes Bennett, who left for active service. The children s quarters were at that time very crowded and inconvenient, and during her term as house physician, a post she held for wnnvc Hio tlnnfnr had. the CratifiCfltlOn •».

of seeing the little patients brought from s> p Andrew, photo. Victoria Ward into the new children s ~ , hospital, built as the result of an appeal' by Mr. Hugh Ward .and Mr. and Mis. C. M Wilford as Mayor and Mayoress. For two successive terms she headed the noil in the elections for the Hospital Board. That was a period of great expansion and the women on the board were able to give useful advice and help*in many directions. Among other things, the milk supply was reorganised, and with knowledge gained then, the doctor says “one of the greatest boons conferred upon the children of Wellington is the municipal milk supply. It was decided to appoint a dietitian, although this appointment was not made until some years later. The “follow-up” system, now in use, by which convalescent babies are cared for on return to their homes, was also planned then. .. On the return of absentee doctors. Dr. Platts-Mills gave up her hospital appointment, having already given up private practice to do special work for the Public Service Commissioner. , . , , n x .. Her interests have been wide and varied. She assisted Mrs. Porter and others in organising the Women’s National Reserve for the purpose of registering and training women to free men for active service during the war, and was its first president. She was a member of the women’s committee of the Town-Plan-ning Association, whose efforts helped greatly to bring about an improved type of home for workers. She has more than once given evidence in the Arbitration Court on behalf of girl shop-assistants. During the waterside workers strike, of 1913 when, owing to privation and distress the sufferings of the women and children were great, the doctor was one of a group of women who kept in touch with the poorer parts of the city. The experiences of that time nearly persuaded her to enter political life, and though she did not do so, she is of opinion that the lack of the women’s poinfof view in Parliament is an incalculable loss to New Zealand. The doctor has been on many deputations to Ministers of various Governments, beginning with that of Mr. Seddon. .• At a time when it was difficult to get women to join lodges, Dr. Platts-Mills was invited to become a member of the Victoria Rebecca Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. She was much impressed with the beautiful, ritual of the Order and the spirit of service which actuated its members. She is very proud of the velvet collar, the badge rank of the Past Noble Grand presented to her on the completion of her term of service in that high office. . As a lecturer on questions of health and hygiene, she is well known to various organisations, especially the Mothers* Union and the League of Mothers, and she takes her part in various health campaigns, such as those for girls under the auspices of the Y.W.C.A., and municipal health weeks. She writes occasional articles'for the Press, and her pamphlet entitled "Gifts,” written at the request of the N.Z. Alliance, has reached a circulation of over 60,000 in New Zealand. It is being published inithe United States also. ' Dr. Platts-Mills has been associated-with St. John Ambulance Brigade for many years, both ns lecturer and examiner. Beginning as a divisional surgeon, she was appointed lady district superintendent, a position she still holds. She has the War Service Medal awarded to St. John workers, and has recently been made an officer of the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem. . She is one of the Women’s Borstal Committee, which owes its inception to the interest taken in the inmates by Lady Alice Fcrgusson. It’s object is to provide help, friendship and kindly supervision for the girls on leaving, and to brighten their lot in various ways while in the institution. . Dr. Platts-Mills has a natural gift of music, with little opportunity for its

cultivation. She is the organist at St. Mary’s Church, Karori, and an amateur member of the Society of Musicians. Soon after her marriage to Mr. J. F. Mills, they travelled by way of Japan to England, combining business, pleasure and postgraduate work. Of their family, the only daughter is following in her mother's footsteps and is now in her final year at the Medical School, Otago University. The youngest son is a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, and reading law at the Inner Temple. The eldest son, whose engagement to Miss Marjorie Fitzherbert was recently announced, is one the staff of Messrs. E. W. Mills & Co., the business founded by his grandfather, in Wellington, as early as 1854.