PLUNKET ROOMS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 83, 9 April 1931, Page 7

PLUNKET ROOMS

PETONE BUILDING OPENED

Thc^Petone Plunket Society's new building in Kensington avenue was opened' by the Mayor of Petone (Mr. D. M'Kenzie) yesterday' afternoon before a large attendance of members and friends. Mr. M'Kenzie spoke of the work of Sir Truby King in. the early days of tho society, and of the success attained since it began in Duuedin in .1907. The people in those days did not understand the earo of children as they did now, and deaths in infancy then numbered 88.8 per thousand, as against 34.1 per thousand at ihe present time. The decrease was a great achievement for the Plunket Society and for Sir Truby King. Mr. M'Kenzie said he knew of no institution that gave greater service to the people than the Plunket Society. He congratulated the Petoae branch on having erected such a beautiful building, and hoped that all who entered it would.have pleasure, contentment, and happiness. \ The Rev. J. C. Loan, said that owing to the wish not to incur expense the Mayor had foregone the. usual privilege of receiving a golden key, and for tho same reason no bouquets had been presented. The thanks of the society were due to the Petone Borough Council for its loan of £500, without which the society could.not have erected the building, to Kr, V. A. Noble, who had drawn the plans, and supervised the erection of the rooms, to the builders, Messrs. Packard and Boyd, to the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board for the gift of two heaters, and to the Borough Council again for the laying out of the grounds. A prayer of dedication by the Rev. Mr. Loan and the singing of a verse of the National Anthem concluded the ceremony. Afternoon tea was then served, and the opportunity was taken by the Mayor to extend the sincere thanks of the society to Mr. W. P. Page for his generosity in presenting the section, valued at £550, on which the rooms were built. Among thoße present were the Mayoress (Mrs. D. M'Kenzie), Mr. R. W. Toomath, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. M'Ewan, Mrs. B. C. Kirk, president of. the Petone Society, and Mrs. J. M. O'Brien, the secretary, Mrs. A. M'Vicar and Mrs. Bennett. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. W. T. Strand, Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Harding, Mr. and Mrs. R. Harding, the Rev. Father Quealy, the Rev. F. S. Ransom, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Hartley, Mr. A. Scholeflcld, Mr. W. Nash, M.P., Mr. V. A. Noble, Mrs. "W. Luke, and Lady Hosking. Congratulations and apologies were received from the Upper Hutt branch. : . Tho committee responsible for the erection of the building consists of Mesdames Donald, O'Brien, Broekelbank, Anderson, Louisson, Frame, M'Kelvey, Falder, Bakewell, Tait, and Jenuer, and Misses Collie and Pattinson. Nurso Thompson is in charge.