PLUNKET SOCIETY

Evening Post, Issue 27, 31 July 1935, Page 11

PLUNKET SOCIETY

YEAR REVIEWED

IMPROVED FINANCES

I ' The result of the year's working of ! the Wellington branch of the Plunket Society is shown by the balance-sheet to be as follows:—Plunket nursing profit, £668 3s Id; Karitane Hospital loss, £298 13s lOd; leaving a net profit for the year of £369 9s 3d. "This result," states the report, "compares more than favourably with previous years, there being a net loss disclosed in each year from 1930 to 1934, which losses were met by drawing on money put aside in the Post Office Savings Bank. As tne society's savings were exhausted at the end. of the last financial year the committee found itself reluctantly compelled to reduce staff from twelve to eleven nurses. This monetary saving, coupled with the gratifying success :of the various efforts held during the year, has been responsible for the excellent results shown. ' ■ . ''The total money raised from sudscriptio'ns, donations, and money raising efforts by the central and suburban committees was £2841, being £477 above last year's efforts. "The committee records its thanks to the trustees of the T. G. Macarthy Trust for their donation of £300 for the Plunket Nursing Service and £6o for the Karitane Hospital, to the anonymous donor of £25, and to the members of the suburban committees for their loyal support and hard work throughout the year. FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. "Money required to be raised by the committee for 1935 to 1936, based on last year's figures on the present stan, would be £2550. . "Shown in the balance-sheet is the sum of £1597 0s lid, on deposit at the Post Office Savings Bank. This sum is-made up' of £1000 for building at hospital, £480 Government grant for maintenance of the hospital, which reverts into current account early in the coming year, interest to date £24 16s lid, £17 3s, 2d reduction of Plunket mortgage"' account, the balance being surplus maintenance money. The Sir Truby and Lady King Karitane Hospital expenses amounted to £2374, as against £2493 last year, a reduction oi £I'l9 Patients' fees show £645 10s Id, compared with £635 18s lOd for last year. The excess of expenditure over income compares very favourably with previous years, the results for the last five years at each March being- 1931, £734 13s 3d; 1932, ,£693 0s 6d; 1933, £320 15s lOd; 1934, £391 Us 9d; 1935, £298 13s lOd. 'The combined efforts of central and suburban committees resulted in £2377 0s 9d being raised, as compared with £1887 19s 4d for 1933 to 1934. - UPKEEP OF PROPERTIES. "The annual charge for upkeep is increasing with the age of the buildings. Both the Karitane Hospital and the Central Plunket rooms are visited by so many overseas visitors who have no other opportunity of investigating Plunket-work that these institutions are practically 'show places.' With the mortgage liabilities to be met there have been no funds to maintain the standard the committee would wish in the matter of furnishings, surroundings, and general efficiency. Exteriors of both buildings are in good repair having been recently painted (Karitane in 1933, and Kent Terrace last year), but a great deal is needed inside, pari ticularly.at the Plunket rooms."

Appreciation is of the work of the suburban committees; their keen interest has, it is stated, lessened the heavy strain on the central committee^

In a-review of the Plunket nursing it is stated that in the pre-natal section there has been an increase of twentytwo in the number of new cases, and in the post-natal section there has been an all-round increase. The total number of visits paid -to rooms by expectant mothers was 2644.