MOTHER AND CHILD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 55, 2 September 1924, Page 7

MOTHER AND CHILD

PLUNKET SOCIETY'S WORK

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE IN

WELLINGTON

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR.

.GENERAL;,

About 120 delegates of branches of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children ■ (better known as the Plunket Society) were, present at the opening proceedings of-' the general conference of the society, at the Accountants' Chambers , this morning. " The. conference will continue until Friday next. A large number of remits have been received from all parts of the Dominion. His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Jeliicoe) and Viscountess Jeliicoe attended during the first part of the conference, and theio were also present :—Sir Maui Pomare (Minister of Health), Dr. T>H. A. Valiritine (Director-General of Health), Dr. Xiuby King (Director of Child Welfare), and Dr. J. S. Elliott (President ot the Wellington branch of the British .Medical Association). In opening the meeting, the Mayor, Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., said they were gathered there—the delegates from all parts-of Now Zealand of branches of the Plunket Society—and he was i=uro that the people of Wellington weie pleased to have'a congregation such as the present one, representing an organisation which did such very fine w<}rk as that done by the Plunket -Society lucre, was a widespread interest in tho society's work. Although there might'be controversies in regard to certain work done by - Parliament and by local bodies, there was no controversy as to the great value of the work done by the Plunket Society. On behalf of the people of Wellington, the Mayor extended a hearty welcome to the visitins d»io- \ gates. " . ' 'VWORK OF IMMENSE IMPORT: - ANCE." His Excellency. the Governor-General said it was a great privilege to be present to meet ladies from all parts ot the Dominion who were interested in work which was of such immense importance to-the--mothers and-to-the future generation. He had been furnished by Dr. Iruby King with literaturexgiviiig him some of the particulars of the woik earned out by the society, and he thought it was really amazing when one read those- figures to see what had been accomplished since the year 1907. lie noticed that in the city of Dunedin " -with which place Dr. Truby King was formerly so much associated, the infantile mortality from the two principal diseases—that was, of infants ' under two years or age—in 1907 was 25 per thousand, and m the last two yeais it was ml. Comparing the infantile moitalitv from those two principal diseases—the figures of countries in different paits of the world were extraordinarily illuminating. In the Australian Commonwealth tho rate was 18 per thousand: in Gieat Britain and-the United States, 15 per thousand; and in New Zealand durinthe last two years it was 4.2 per thousand. Those figures spoke for themselves, and it seemed to him that- tho sooner other countries adopted the methods m vogue here the better it would be for the rest of the world. 'It appeared to him also a matter of which New • Zealand might well be extremely proud —that this, country had led the"way m "" tins work of the care of mothers "and" children. It was a pleasure, therefore. \ to meet so many delegates from all \ parts of the Dominion who were devoting -so-much of their time and so much of their labour to furthering this gie.it cause; and that pleasure was immensely added to by the fact that one realised how very successful the^efforts of the society had been in tho past; and it was in the hope, and, indeed, the belief, that those efforts would be continued, and would meet with ftuther success, that lie had the greatest pleasure in declaring the conference open. , MINISTER OF HEALTH. "I am sure His Excellency's ie_marks," said Sir Maui Pomare' (Minister of Health), "must bo as giatifyin^ to the whole conference as they aic lii myself as Minister of; Health. New Zi-.i-l.md has great reason to be proud of/ tho Plunket Society, and peisonally 1 v- l gard it as affording the best example of effective co-operation between a piimarily private organisation and Uip State. "The society has gained steadily, in the-esteem and confidence of both the public and the Government; and one of my chief aims, throughout my, shoit term of office as Minister of Health, has been to foster and* strengthen the' ties beween tho Health Department and the society. Our effort has been to bring about complete unity of aim and pur-' pose; and I may at least claim this measure of success, namely, that never before lias there been such harmony throughout the Health Department itself, and never before has there been so strong a desire on the part of trieDepartment to avail itself to the full of the invaluable services the Plunket Society can render in the cause of mother and child. ' ' '" '"' "VERY.NOBLE WORK." "This is neither the time nor the place to say much about maternal mov- " tahty and our unduly high infantile death rate in the first week of life, but what I have to say in this connection is fortunately entirely hopeful. I feel conh- ' dent that in both directions a vnt-t change for the bettei -will bo'luoughtr about in tho near futuie, and that in this leform the Plunket Society, -workni" in conjunction with the Health' Depart '» luent, will play a very important pait' indeed, 'lhe main thing after all >is practical education and training of the ' mothers and nuises, and I am quite satisfied that nowhere else in the world is there any organisation which can interest and educate parents in the laws and intimate needs of the home and the , family as well as tho Royal New ZealandSociety for the Health of Women r and Children. "As Minister of Health I cannot adequately express my appreciation of tho. splendid public spirit which has brought v together, at their own personal expense such a large and representative body / of New Zealand women, and I wish your conference the greatest possible success You may rely on mo at all times to do everything in my power to help you to carry on yoiu'- very noble and publicspirited work. It has my wholehearted sympathy and support." The Minister concluded by^saying in , his Native tongue, "Kia kalia; kia toa •, ton ora" (Be strong; be brave; and good luck ). N •" A NOBLE WORK." Dr. T. H. A. Valiritine, Director-Gen-eial of Health, after congratulating the society on the work it had done siidthat during the last two years the lle.ilth Depaitment had been reinforced considerably and notably by tho addition of Dr. Iruby King to its ranks. He' need baldly say (hat Dr. Trubv Kintr had stimulated them ami helped them in eveiy poEsiblo way; and his work would I m SfiEfitiS W& em*. & tk* &tur§ with

■/: the.';. greatest' l possible applause. : They! y.. _had f_be6n.' helped by,,the Minister, .who ?C" ~\\SsT~v%if: enthusiastic; in'"regard to i this '.'■■ work./. The Minister had been- most ;,' assidttous-Jin-his- desire—to-help;-;~The -• ■„ Department /had/also been very,iortuni ' ■"•"'ate in h'avingfa-very, excellent staff,l\vho 'i-y were heart, and soul'in the work.. -His c Excellency had spoken of the good work $'- done/by'the'society/in reducing'infant - mortality. ; It.had -done wonderful work ; i /. t .but.- there was more,, to: be done with re- :';" gard to another branch of infant mor- ;•' talityj-in, which ■ our-, mortality' ,rate did * '"■""' rot coniparo,"so farourably iwith .; some '?..". otiier countries™ _He<Svasconfident,1 :how- -.' ever, that with the work of the Plunket :1 V Society .they would be able to reduce ■ even that mortality, and reduce it very V quickly..// „,> '' '/: '■'-'•/"_ ■ * CO-OPERiATIQN 'Of£ MEDICAL ' I "•-;, r'^ - :. : ; ; < ;,; ; ;! ■'•• They';! We're" *.; alsor. asking: the : Plunket s .Society to help them.withli-egard:to.the^ 5. ' reduction,of maternal, mortality.'..-;: That' / .'.was very much in th"c air;just, how; as i' 'those preseht ;knew ;"'atid":lie"; was; quite J' confident . with ".the > assistance of, s - ■the..V.Plunke"CTSoojety i ..'they, would be j . , able/to/ reduce .that' mortality*. ■'■/. To ro-. ■ duc'eif effectively,'' they must'■ have tho' ;■•; help fof the medicalrprbfession'; : and he ;;. / was- glad.tq"' say. that.;he'.;wasj confident. 1 .they/would'have tlip;-hearty.'assistance of .-the/ British Medical "Association. Al- .; : Teady^the^BritishyMedic^l . ■V: in New' Zealand had agreed-to delegate ;, ■ certain members of their association "to .: meet'-the officers of the. Department to : ';/: deal with - any important matters .>af- ■'. Jecting the.public health. S: He counted »/ .on their assistance in. this : matter .'of j ■ maternal.,mortality.' .'.' He was quite'sure/ \t they,f\vould*b,e able/to .show a very' good' ,-, result-from the'''combined work of the ;■". Department with;, the' British' Medical ;j :■ Association, -. and. with the "assistance "of' ;; *h^".'? l'?nlce(;',Society^'and bfrkindred so-' '■ -;.,cieties. „He .■ reiterated tho: 'hope ' that ]; -■..'■ the Plunket Society -would,' go.,bn/work-. '.«■■' lng- asit had done so nobly iri. the past,' .;"-■ -and/that -New- Zealand -would-be• able [I:-: t6~;showvtKe: resf'of? ffie i? world that1 we": ',{■':■■ cpuldmot' only 'reduce/ 'infaht-'inortality,-. it ; but-materhalpmortality? as;'wel]" -VAti- ';' plause.). .; : ■.•.'-..',■■;■. : : . r?; ; ;» -.BRITISH MEDICAl^^6ciA> ■ •;':. ..::-.}^ ; -'TION;Sj-SUPI>OKT.V;.ivH. r ;;;: ; i: ,'; .: Dr.J.-S; Elliott- (president of the, Wel- ' i -! n? t0? branch 'of' the 'British-Medical „,':■■ Association) saia-fie-saw with' very-great' J; interest: within; the week- a: book Vr -SSjfff l' The International ;Hahdbook ■of |, ohildi.Care," - and'-/it^was;'intensely .in-' -..-._ ,t'eresting to seei-how much was>riow be- •; ing done in practically -every country of r, . tue-.\yorl4-.in<the«'direction of: helping" .. ■. mothers and infants; and it-.was particu- ;*; larly gratifying ,\to,raiqtrcerffiit'. iff ftliis'.' 11 -•;■ 5' ork.DivTruby;King.-was;so0rk.DivTruby;King.-was;so early in the !. held, and .that ■ the ■ •Elunlcet 'Society' ;"; fqundea:in"igO7,; ; haH' been "ai example," ;; to/-pther; countries,' .which'.lha'd awakened .-; later to the 'necessity of - this work."- He * ■<r noticed that in\l9lß an; Act was.passed; Jv'. by the British-Parliament; wliich sa'nc--"J ■-.' tioned .the; fQrmatipn."of;,,yariousr.centres - , in the Old; Country—either .municipal' 6t - - voluntary—to, carefor expectant mothers, ' and nursing mothers; -and children under . ■•': Syears^.ageJ;:: There was: authority in ..- that Act for. .the Ministry';of .Health :to grant up to 50; per cent: the;funds; neces- • sary^to each centre-for carrying on this work. : He observecl that in'Ehgland and •- ..Waleivcluring .the-last-.yearithe: Govern- ;: menfc "had; found for. this work the very ■< .'largo':;';suni *pl Jand .3,^ half ,- ' pourids>':He*renected -„when»he; observed •; that'i- expendit\ire*-r,h6w very .much' the' ... Plunket: Society, had saved* the: Govern- ;■ . ment. of Zealand: in; .'.expenditure. '■; ," (Applause.^ -;He' thougli J that had! been ■ .. done becaus^the"lWork-bf theiPlunket'; ;;: Society had been largely educative1 and: .;-'"■- preventive—that .itih^d,;-conTbined"-.,tli,e •' , need 'for "pre-natal''Vare*\v'ith-the' need r-SiyinS,-nafeaL£fee.ding;.tb.:a'nfants;,-.'. ■■.r:a_n;d that had prevented a -great "deal of .- -sickness-that - would* otherwise -rlead-.-to 7" large expenditure.'"■/■'. ; -.;:'(/'". .':,•' i,, _.W e :y?er& rather ■; Zea-'-.'"land;,'continued\Pr.'tElliott;; [ that; our con-. ? ditions of v :life/;weW""so; favouraJole. ?;\ln > . Petrograd > .'orV&ritiwaßT.'how/c^Ue&,'.-liem- :: ingrad, the number of children who were ; .-■ grossly under-nourished was 80 pet ;cent. ; 'of:the^whole population.?: Our.' conditions" !; .here were;excellent,;'except'that;in some: '; - of the larger ■■ towns?; the'Shousing' of: the 'v poorer.people^left a-good■deal- to-be!de- ; Z sired:,, :There..were,ypr6blems..before. us. S .■;inZealand.,.;-There'.yr'as.'the'^.'extehr:- :^e\y.- ----£. ,fiipn,of.th;work;of medical inspection of E scjfiobr!'"children.' .<*\There "waSi.r'anotHer-, J 'p.r6blem.,that.,aff,ected..the whole "race,'and; '■ ti;,at,.wa3 dealing witli.-mentally defective. < -.-.cKildren.''-;V-":'.-.^,' t ';/:'''.v.':'"t-A I"':",''. }.'.':':'■■"/■■.. -;- -1!. ,^.He 'did.not'prppose;tp:s'ay3m'uch.:about. * ,m^terrial. mortality/ beca.us'e^ it .\vas! rath-.; * er that; that- subject,' it/seemf-: * cd' to "hini,. excited .a":certain'..amount vof. ?•. controversy';in .some'quarters. :;iHe did f ;rio^ know why/*■";.'" v-v:'.:;;'::V! , : , """■',. : •;', ■','.■'. I ;VMEbie^PEOFESSI(SN^s"A^r^CEH' 1 ■■- -*';' The; medical "''profession • would be very. : :gla'd to.;dfferTtheir'services''ih''givirig;ad-; ;'. , vice to expectant-mothers,7fand;the.pro-' < fession.would confidently.rely.on;the",use-: < fuUwork .of ■Jtheinurses,s nol in-'aiiy "l\vay " detracting" - frpm,v.th"at > .;pefsbijai.' r | i ppntacti ' between the' doctor 'and'the'; expectantv '^. : that:was,necessary.; .He.bejieyed: it was" quite the common practice of the; doctor,in New' Zealand, .who;was attend--s;;si'irig ah expectant mother to keep (in, touch' jii>'with her for'a.cpnsideraljle period before v j the'child,was.bdrn...,li;he didfiiot do so, i he should do so.' \He:would not.say more: "•>; .''about maternalV-'inorldlity, 'because^, he \ ; might say ;t'oo..'much or -too. :little. ,A. : ; ' : member :ofl Parliament might; be excused' j : for. being■'^-.merely{rhetorical, ; .and. the; 1 : speaker would not havereveh the-.excuse : »• • of:';the: poet or "poetic' license:: ;rDr.-'Elj" 1.. liott" concluded sby 'wishing ythe ■confer-" '( ■ "puce' every success.'*;- :, ":'■;■'-v:£\{<i?-:.;: '■'-■ '.. :; ■■■;; ;geatifxing;assubances' :J;:.; \ '.- ■' Dr. Truby .King; .Director of.Child Wei- ' ; fare, said his' task .was-a, jjleasaht one, 5 and 'that was to, propose' a heartjy vote of ; ' thanks to those' who had graced the con-; ; ' ference 'with.' their, presence '.that day-^—' \ '• particularly toVTheir.'Excellericfes Lo.'d; , and-Lady'■ JellicOe.*^ A good deal had been '-" saidlwith regard: to the 'unity ■'which n'o\y'l ; •' existed in connectiop.. with the : Healtll- ; Department, .arid the, desire .for unity of '-, .purpose 'and.'action.fpf :those: principally with .the; great aim they all. ' had, in view. The Government "had steadily increased ' tho subsidies fvom . nothing to 24s in, the £ in regard to nuises, and from year to year the society had become more closely associated with the work of the Health Department. It was peculiaily gratifying to have tho Minister's assurance and: that of Dr. Val- "• -intine with regard to the desire for unity ' ' and co-operation. Speaking on behalf of the society he could assure Sir Maui Pomare and .Dr.-Valintine that the view they expressed was entirely reciprocated, and the Plunket Society -would do all in 'its; power to further the public "Health "of tho Dominion in every way in which' it could do good work. ;£l--vas always a"mistake to go beyond th'e-eonfines--of .the ,work in hand. The .' 3oSletsChad"uri'd,€rtaken a certain task, • and/^had, managed it exceedingly well. ' But--th6~^)ther work was cognate to it. '_"• He ."meant -safeguarding the mother; v".jftidjj^fxffther,"-teaching the expectant inotfier; * the -provision for pre-natal care;'.and, he t might say, the care of the_childTight, up to five yeais of age. They- had -been largely limited in regaid to Uth'o - last-mentioned duty, because their nurses had been always overworked, and it would have been impossible to concentrate upon their, special duties and also do adequate justice to ther elder children. Dr. Trubv Kins: said the inspiration of -the "PJunket child welfare- movement came from a

amall book written by Florence Nightingale. -He concluded by, expressing the appreciation of /the society of the1 encouragement and kindly remarks made by His-Excellency and the other speak'ersr,"/:?/ -/ ;f ■;.. ';,, .-;v . ■ : The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation..: ..'/ .--".- ' . . / ■'"-■'\'-.': '(Proceeding.) ■'.. ' ■'"■