PLUNKET SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 16

PLUNKET SOCIETY

THE PETONE BRANCH

Tho twelfth annual meeting of tho Petono branch of the Plunket Society was held in tho Plunket Eooms, Petone, last evening. The Mayor of Petone (Mr. D. McKcnzie) was in tho chair, and there was an attendanco of seventeen people. .' \ .

In moving the adoption of the annual repoVt and balance-sheet, extracts from which have already been published, Mr. McKonzie expressed concern at the lack of support given by the people of Petonc to tho committee and the nurse. Everyone^ know of the distress that was prevalent in Petone, but all they could do was their best to help the society. The nurse .(Nurse Thomson) did an amazing amount of work, and was most popular. He knew of no greater social service than the principles laid down in the practical teaching methods as carried out by the Plunket nurses. About fis per cent, of tho babies born in the Dominion came'under the direct control or supervision of tho Plunket nurses, and the fact that the infantile death rate in New Zealand was the lowest m the world showed tho value of the society's work.

In seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, the Rev. J. C. Loan paid a tribute to the work of • tho society. Times were bad, but he believed that conditions were. brightening. Those who worked .for charity could never look forward to a lightening of their load. Ho commented on the valuable assistance given by. the Macarthy Trust to tho branch.'

Mention was made of the great amount of work dono by Nurse Thomson.

Tho suggestion was made that more subscribers should bo obtained, and that a personal canvass would help iv this direction.

Dr. M. B. M. Tweed said the general committee of a branch should be representative of all sections of the community, so that every member of the committee would have a personal appeal. There was a population of 12,000 in Petone, and ho believed that one representative for every 250 people was possible. A lai-ge committee of up to 50 people would perhaps help to-solve the branch's difficulties.

Following pn this suggestion, it was decided to give the members of the general committee power to add to their number. ,

Dr. Tweed gave an instructive address on how to improve the position of the branch. The work of the society in Petone needed boosting and rejuvenating, ho said. The membership was only 30, which represented one in every 400 of the population. There should bo more members, and he suggested means by which local enthusiasm could bo aroused.

Miss G. Hoddinott, administrative secretary to tho society, spoke on the growth and working of tho socioty, and answered several questions.

Officers wero elected' as follows:— President, Mrs. E. N. Miller; vicepresidents, Mesdames Evans and Falder, Messrs. J. W. McEwan, W. G. Lodder, D. McKenzie,and the' Kov. J. C. Loan; advisory board, Drs. Harding, sen. and ,iun., Donald, Bakewell, Messrs." R. E. Harding and J. W. McEwan; men's committee, Messrs. W. S. Lockhead, V. A.'■ Noble, C. P. Broekelbank, , A..E. Pattinson, A. Scholefield, ; and J. A. Ash; general. . committee, Mesdames Evans, Miller, Davis, Lanham, Caldwell, Jenner, Chudley, and Miss Collie; associate member, Mrs. Yates; hon. auditor, Mr. W. P. Watkinson; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mrs. M. Jenner.