PLUNKET BABIES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 130, 29 November 1926, Page 5

PLUNKET BABIES

BAZAAR AT LOWER HUTT

SUCCESSFUL VOTING CONTEST.

Tu' sublime indifference to the commotion around them, several perfect specimens of the art of baby rearing held court at Lower Hutt on Saturday afternoon. o'. course none of tliem cried—a Plunket baby scorns to do that—and they were the centre of an-admiring crowd. Proud parents were only too pleased at the notice taken of their offspring, for the occasion was the annual fete in aid of the local branch of the Plunket Society, but the atrocious weather unfortunately prevented the full intentions of the promoters beiiu. carried out. or their hopes fulfilled. At the last minute, shelter being necessary, the dancing-room of the Town Hall was secured, and' around this the stalls were arranged. This, of course, was not such a good setting as the attractive gounds around the Plunfet rooms, but there was no choice in the matter, and everyone i-; to be congratulated who, helped to make the affair such a success. ■ The Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. W. T. Strand, opened the proceedings by introducing the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young). The Minister referred to the magnificent work accomplished by Sir Truby and Lady King, both of whom were unfortunately prevented from being present. Twenty years ago, said Mr. Young, the death rate of infants under one year old was in New Zealand 8.53 percent. Sir Tniby King had reduced this figure to 3.96, the lowest in the world. The Plunket Society, with its 60 branches and 100 nurses, was doing a work which everyone should support and in which all should be interested. The Government was doing its part by spending £26,000 on subsidising the nurses' salaries and in the direction of children's hospitals. Mr. Young also referred to the Lady Truby King Fellowship, by the establishment of which it was hoped to be able to train some who would be enabled to carry on the work so ably started by Sir Truby and Lady King. The bazaar having been declared open, buyers soon found that there were many attractive things which they needed, and all stalls did good trade. But the feature of the afternoon was the announcement of , the result of the voting which had been going on for some weeks past in respect to the local Plunket babies. The winner turned out to be Miss Julia Strand, who was present to receive hearty congratulations. This voting brought in a sum of over £180, which, with the £100 or so raised by the bazaar, will be a very welcome addition to the funds of the society. The really prize baby, however, needed a stall to himself upstairs, no perambulator being of sufficient dimensions for his bulk.' He was well worth the extra coin to see, being undoubtedly the most remarkable infant ever produced in Lower Hutt (or elsewhere for that matter). This hefty youngster weighed at least a stone for each month of his alleged age, which was 11 months, and his intelligent answers to questions were only equalled by his powerful remarks on the subject of Plunket societies and Plunket babies. By some omission his name and parentage were not stated, so it was difficult to know to whom to extend congratulations upon such a prodigy. It is understood, however, that he was but one strand in the network of willing helps who worked so hard to make the bazaar a success.