CHILD WELFARE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 50, 22 November 1930, Page 8

CHILD WELFARE

Plunket Conference WORK FOR MAORIS The Pre-School Child At the Plunket Society Conference, which was continued yesterday, the question whether the society should be officially represented at the next Pan-Pacific Conference was discussed. A remit from Pahiatua urged that it be a recommendation to the central council that a delegate, representing the society, be sent to the next Pan-Pacific Conference. It was mentioned that at the last conference a delegate from Mexico, who had travelled to Honolulu more or less for the purpose of learning all she could about child welfare in New Zealand, could find out little that was of value to her regarding the work of the Plunket Society. . . Miss Pattrick (Director of Plunket. Nurses) said it would be very difficult to get a delegate who could answer all the questions which would be asked her by overseas people. On the motion of Mrs. Parkes (Auckland), it was decided that the society consider sending a delegate to the Pan-Paci-fic Conference in three years’ time, and that the selection of the delegate be left to the central council. This was seconded by Mrs. Hanan (Dunedin), and earned. Nurses’ Superannuation. It was announced that the National Provident Fund had agreed to admit Plunket nurses on the same, terms as general hospital nurses. ■ The financial undertaking was £4OOO a year; the society’s contribution toward the sum would be £2250, and the balance would be paid by the society’s employees, by this insurance, the society would hay®: the great advantage of; interchange with public health and hospital board nurses, who would lose no superannuation by a transfer. , •/ v"-:.: . . Care of Maori Infants. The following motion was carried .- “That the comparative statistics between the Maori and European death rate of infants in the first year of life show need for more intensive work being undertaken on the lines of the Plunket Society s work in the interests of the Maori race.' A delegate explained the difficulty experienced by Plunket nurses in keeping in touch with the Maori mother and baby on their return from the nursing home. Figures from the New Zealand Year Book. 1930, showed that during the firat month of life there were 27 per 1000 deaths among European babies, and _~s deaths per 1000 among Maori babies. But at the end of one year of hto we death rate for Maori children was 131 per 1000 as against 36 per 1000 for European babies, which proved that the high death rate was brought about by lack of care and knowledge. An Appreciation. At the conclusion of a discussion on the expenses in connection with the central council of the society, Mrs. J. A. Hanan, Dunedin, paid an eloquent tribute to those generous and philanthropic women who had assisted Dr. Truby King from the inception of the movement up to the present time. . The small stream was now a mighty river, having its tributaries all oyer the British Empire. The central council, said Mrs. Hanan, was the mainspring of this movement and they were fortunate in having had from the beginning onwards women on it who spent their time, money and energy in controlling and guiding its destinies. She moved the following motion: That conference wishes, to place on record its continued confidence in and grateful appreciation of the unselfish and generous work done by the central council. It that at • all time the aim of the central council is to extend the work of the Plunket Society along safe and economical lines.” ' ■ This was moved by Mrs. Harding, representing the smaller branches of the society, and seconded by Mrs. Hall, president of the Wellington branches, representing the. city branches, and carried enthusiastically. Care of Pre-School Children. Mrs. Gilmour (Lyttelton) submitted the report of the special sub-committee appointed to make recommendations to the conference in regard to work among the pre-school children as embodied in a remit from the Ashburton branch. This special sub-committee consisted of Mesdames Gilmour (Lyttelton), in the chair, Grigg (Ashburton), Tythe Brown (Wellington), Miss Gates (Ashburton), Miss Pattrick (director of Plunket nursing), and Plunket Nurse Mitchell (Wellington). The report of the director of Plunket nursing in the matter was approved by the committee and • adopted by the conference. The Ashbntron remit was with-, drawn in favour of this ..report, which recommended that, “Realising the necessity for and the value of education in regard to the care of the pre-school child, it should be continued wherever and whenever possible without overburdening the nurses, but that at the present juncture it would be inadvisable to appoint special nurses to deal with this phase of the work. Much could be done by means of propagando, and the issuing of a pamphlet setting out the salient points relating to the care of the “run-abouts” or pre-school children, in addition to the excellent diet sheets already issued by the society.” Lady King Scholarship. With reference to a remit from the Lyttelton branch in connection with the Lady King Scholarship, the following committee was appointed to confer with the Otago University Council in order .to ascertain whether the aims of the society in establishing the scholarship are being fulfilled: —Mesdames Johnstone (Dunedin), .Cracraft-Wilson and Cecit Wood (Christchurch), Gilmour (Lyttelton), Moore (Timaru), Sir Truby King, and Sir Thomas Sidey. On the motion of Mrs. Weston (New Plymouth), a great tribute was paid to Sir Truby King by the delegates, members showing their appreciation by acclamation. Regret was expressed at the absence of Lady Hosking on account of ill-health, and hopes were expressed that she would soon be restored to good health. Assistance Recognised. On the motion of Sir Truby King, seconded by Mrs. Roberts (Patea), a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Warren, trustee of the estate of the late Hunter Shaw, and to the Macarthy Trust for their generous financial assistance to the society. A hearty vote of thanks was also accorded to Mr. Tuck (Registrar of Incorporated Societies at Dunedin), who. is also a member of the advisory board of the central council of the society, for his valuable assistance in connection with alterations to the constitution. Election of Council and Staff. The election of the council and honorary staff resulted:—General president. Sir Truby Klug: president, Mrs. J. A. Johnstone; hon. vice-presidents, Dame Massey, Lady Hosking, Miss Mary King; vicepresidents, Lady Sldcy, Mesdames J'. Me-' George, J. C. McGeorge (Dunedin). Hall. 1 (Wellington). TV. H. Parkes (Auckland). T. P. Vautler (Napier), ,T. Cracroft Wilson (Christchurch), A. ,T. Crawford (Wanganui), W. A. Moore (Timaru), T, D. Pearce (Invercargill). A. Coo.nibe (Palmerston North), and Miss Elsie Williams (Hastings) ; committee. Mesdames Wallace (Nelson), I. M. Kidd (New Plymouth), Cunnlnghame. G. Galloway, and Miss N. Reid (Dunedin). Mesdnmes D. Hay (Hamilton). Caselberg (Masterton). B. H. Gilmour (Lyttelton), A. E. Harding (Dargaville), B. L. Blf/nden (Walpara County), and Dr. Martin Tweed; Advisory Board, Sir Thomas Sidey, Messrs. Peter Barr, F. H. Carr, Leslie Harris, P. L. Ilalsted, W. D. Hunt, J. A. Johnstone, G. B. Ritchie, P. R. Sargood. D. E. Theomin. L. G. Tuck. Dr. C. E. Hcrciis. Sir Truby King; honorary meillenl staff, Str Trubv King. Drs. E. H- Williams, S. R W. Strain( F. S. Batcholor, K. Bott,

R. Ritchie, D. W. Carmalt Jones, T. leigus, G. Fitzgerald. R. Findlay Allan, and Mr J. Renfrew White; honorary surgeon, Sir Louis Barnett; honorary dental surgeon, Dr. R. B. Dodds; honorary bacteriologist, Dr. C. E. Hcrcus, D. 5.0.; honorary solicitor, Air. J. S. Monro; honorary analyst Dr. J. K. H. Inglis; honorary auditors, Messrs. Barr, Burgess, and Stewart- . « The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mrs. Johnstone, (president or the council) for presiding, to the committees and secretary of the Wellington branch tor their hospitality and arrangements in connection with the conference and to Mr. J. A. Young. M.P.. for the help which he had given during the sittings oi the conference.