PLUNKET SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 25, 29 July 1933, Page 13

PLUNKET SOCIETY

WELLINGTON BRANCH

PAST YEAR'S WORK

ANNUAL REVIEW

In the tw.onty-fiftk annual report of the Wellington branch of the Plunket Society, which is to be presented at the annual meeting to be held on August 1, the committee thanks every subscriber, donor, and friend for their continued sympathy and help, which has meant so much during these difficult times. It is indeed a great satisfaction to all concerned, states the report, to know that without curtailing in any way the Plunket work itself,' and at the same time without drawing on any reserve fund as had to be done last year, the society has been able to meet its' liabilities. Reference is made to1" the wonderful support given by the members of the suburban sub-commit-tees and those representing tho coastal towns sub-branch, whose y increased efforts have materially helped in enabling the work of the society to be steadily maintained. Many of * them also represented the society on relief committees. Owing to this, and to the information so readily supplied by.the Plunket nurses, it has been possible to help many needy mothers and babies, and a real endeavour had been made to meet the ever-increasing demand for children's clothes and babies' outfits. This had always been one of the society's activities, .but never has the demand been so great. Help in this way, eitner by tho giving of new material to be made up, or by clean mended old garments, is always wel-. come, states the report. KARITANE HOSPITAL. During the past twelve months, 'states the report, the, Truby King Karitane Hospital has had the largest number of patients sinco its .opening in 1927. The total number of patients in tho hospital was 349, .an increase of 48 over the previous year's figures. Of the 349 patients, 100 (30 mothers and 70 babies) were treated free, tho majority being th© wives" and babies of relief workers. The great majority of the remainder paid a nominal sum. Tho committee expresses its sinccro thanks to the matron and staff for their splendid work during the year. Af the commencement of tho year, as an economy measure, a trial was made of a reduction of the hospital staff, by oue, but the committee had authorised the matron to revert to tho original number if she feels that the staff is becoming overtaxed in maintaining the high standard of work that the hospital had always, accomplished. This extra help would certainly bo required on special occasions, such as the special course of instruction in infant" welfare which will be given this year for the first time to medical students resident in Wellington'in the fifth year of their studies. In an organisation such as the Plunket movement, two-thirds of which is maintained by- public subscription, the report records that it is Very difficult to reduco expenditure, after the cut in salaries, except by reduction in staff, and this cannot bo done without a definite curtailment of service to tho public . ;. ; . • ~■ ~ . TJio- Karitane.,.. Hospital , expenses /amounted to £'2493:, afc'against ,'£29oo' "2s 4d for the previous year, a saving of £406' 12s.'. The saving was mainly effected, by tho reduction -in salaries, £.153 Bs.lid, through a trial being made of the reduction of the staff by one, and a cut.being.made in. the salaries of the domestic staff; reduction of house expenses by £81 14s 5d through the fall in the cost of living; and reduction of rent. Income showed: Patients' fees, £651 Is 7d, as compared with £6-15 19s 2d. The Government gjjant showed 10 per cent, reduction, being £720, as against £800. Tho excess of expenditure over income compared very .favourably with previous years, the results for the. last, three years being:— March, 1931, £734 13s 3d; .March, 1932, £693 0s 6d; March, 1933, £320 16s lOd. In eouneetiort'1 .with this result reference is made to the 'generosity of the members of the Rotary Club, who have always met the interest on the hospital mortgage since it was built in 1927. In addition to doing this the members' have from time to time reduced the principal. During tho past year the amount of £1050 was paid off, £1000 being part'proceeds of one of the big y art unions, 'and £50 through special efforts by members, leaving" £600 owing at the present time. FINANCE. In connection with finance, the report states that in the last annual report the committee estimated that approximately £2600 would be required to bo raised, exclusive of the Government grant, in order to maintain the Plunket nursing service and the Karitane Hospital for the year under review. The accounts disclose that the estimate was substantially correct, and the result of tho year's working is Karitane Hospital loss, £320 16s lOd; Plunket nursing profit, £196 6s 7d; net loss, £124 10s 3d. The society gratefully acknowledges its indebtedness to the T. G. Macarthy Trust for a grant of £400 to the Plunket nursing service, and £83 for the Truby King Karitane Hospital. The society is also grateful to an anonymous donor of £150. Included in the donations was £65 8s 4d,. presented to the society by Mr. Hursthouse, trustee m the late McGoverno Estate. With these grants tho total takings from subscriptions, donations, and money-raising efforts was £2464, arid the loss of £124 10s 3d, compared more than favourably with the loss of £647 Is for the previous year. Money required for the coming year is estimated to be the same as the year under review, and tho report states that no further economics can be mado without great; detriment to the work. The report records with deep regret the deaths of Mrs. M. Eichelbaum, Mrs. AY. Fell, Mrs. S. Kirkcaldie, Mrs. ,T. Kirkcaldie, Sir Thomas Sidey, and Mr. J. A. Johnstone.

The, reports of the various sub-com-mittees and the coastal towns subbranches show that the work of the" society has boeii well maintained during the year.