WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 7

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY

LOWER HUTT BRANCH.

The annual general meeting of the Lower Hutt branch of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of "Women and Children was held in the local council chambers last evening, the Mayor, Mr. W. T. Strand, occupying the chair. He was 'supported by the retiring president, Mrs. J. M'Gaw. The chairman said that the great outstanding fact for which they were all proud was that the infant mortality of New Zealand was the lowest in the world, for which credit was wholly due to the Plvmket Society. The first annual report and balancesheet were adopted. The report, presented by the hon. secretary, Mrs. S. Hoggard, showed that satisfactory progress had been made. A sub-committee had been formed at Upper Hutt, of which Mrs. A- G. Lodge was appointed hon. secretary. Members of this committee had made available rooms in their homes at Heretaunga, Trentham, and Silverstream for the purpose of nurses in interviewing mothers. Mrs. Balcombe Brown had placed her car at the disposal of the nurse. In con; sequence of the growth of the work,, there was need for better, premises and a public rest-room for women in Lower Hutt. This had now been made available, and it was hoped that the borough council would see its way to erect a suitable building for permanent quarters. By courtesy of the Registrar of Births, the society was now sending notices to all mothers offering the services of the Pluuket nurse. Nurse Fleming was arranging to hold demonstrations and lectures during the coming year. The thanks of the committee was due to Mrs. Stannard Knight for giving an at home for .the purposes of defraying the cost of a bicycle for the nurse. The sum of £18 10s had been raised; One hundred and thirty-nine garments had been sent to the Wellington Society. Funds had been raised by a sale of cakes and produce, at which £40 was realised; a dance in the Lyceum Hall brought in £39 0s 9d, and a garden fete £127 16s 3d. The annual subscriptions had amounted to £25 12s 6d. The thanks of the committee. were due to Mr. W. C. Burd, hon. auditor, the advisory board, and the local borough council, and lo the Press. The treasurer, Mrs. H. Johnston, reported that the year had commenced with a credit balance of £68 Us Id, and had closed with a credit, of £174 12a. The committee had no liabilities, and had assets amounting to £334 13s.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mrs. D. A. Ewen; vice-presidents, Mesdames Balcombe Brown, 'M'Caw, and Chapman ; secretary, Mrs. Geoffrey Hoggard; treasurer, Mrs. Hansfqrd Johnston; general committee, Mesdames' Bennett, J. Cameron, G. A. Chapman, Hall, E. W. Hunt, Huthnance, F. N. R. Meadows, A. V. Sutcliffe, Yon Zedlitz, Buxton, Toswill, Tait, M'Biiin, Hardcastle, J. Mitchell, and Miss "Williams; associate members, Mesdames Barry, Brasell, Buck, T. Cameron, V. Clendon, Denniston, H. B. Gordon, Gibson, Harman, Higgie, A. Jarman, Olphert, J. Mitchell, Simpson, C. B. Wyette, Knight, Olsen, Adams, Admore, Helyar, and Austin; advisory board. Dre. Barren, Mirams, and Dudley, Messrs. D. A. Ewen, E. W. Hunt* E. P. Bunny, and G. A. Chapman.

The question of reporting on a scheme for arranging for a regular income for the committee was referred to the Advisory Board. Votes of thanks were accorded to the Advisory Committee, the Press, and the chairman, Mr. W. T. Strand: