PLUNKET SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 12

PLUNKET SOCIETY

"FOUNDER'S DAY"

WORK REMEMBERED

Today is the thirty-third'anniversary of the founding of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society), and the occasion is being observed by the society in an appropriate manner. The society was founded - in Dunedin on May 14, 1907.

The following message has been issued by the patroness of the society (Lady Galway):—

"As patroness of the Plunket Society, I should like, on the occasion of its thirty-third birthday, to send my personal greetings and a message of encouragement to all of those who are connected with the movement in New Zealand.

"On each successive anniversary of its foundation, our thoughts turn back to dwell with deep gratitude on its devoted and public-spirited Sir Truby and Lady King, and the great and lasting contribution that they have made to public welfare.

"I feel, as now we are, alas, once more at war. that the patriotic nature of the work of the society becomes even more vividly marked than at normal times, and efforts for its maintenance and growth should be redoubled for the sake of the future of our race. I "May I wish it, with all my heart, years of prosperity and expansion in the future comparable with what has gone before." MRS. ERASER'S GREETINGS. Mrs. Fraser, wife of the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser), has conveyed greetings to the society in the following words: — "It gives me the utmost pleasure on the occasion of your memorable I Founders' Day to extend to all your members throughout the Dominion a message of greeting and good will. Through the inspired distinguished leadership of the late Sir Truby King your organisation will for ever be associated with the cause of humanity. Countless mothers have reason to remember with gratitude, the name of your founder, and I sincerely trust that your worthy aim to keep fresh his memory and that of the birth of your society will be crowned with wellmerited success." PRESIDENT'S BROADCAST. .Whilst sitting in the English-speak-ing Union rooms yesterday afternoon members of the Plunket Society, who had gathered there for the celebration of Founder's- Day, listened to the voice of the Wellington president, Mrs. H. Jowett, delivering a message over the air whilst Mrs. Jowett herself sat silent among them. The message was a recorded one and therefore Mrs. Jowett had the interesting experience of hearing her own voice being broadcast. This message was followed by an impressive radio dramatisation of the life arid work of the founder of the Plunket Society, the late Sir Truby Among those who listened to these

broadcasts were Mrs. Peter Fraser, the guest of honour, and there was an assemblage of representatives of Plunket Society committees of the Wellington district present. The official party included members of the Wellington executive, Mrs. W. Young (an honorary vice-president), Mrs. Charles Gray (coastal towns > president), and Mrs. Francis (Otaki president).

Mrs. Jowett explained that the object of Founder's Day was to give all members throughout the district the opportunity of reaffirming their loyalty to the aims and objects of the society and to pay tribute to its. founder. COUNTRY'S GREATEST ASSETS. ; Mrs. Fraser conveyed a message of apology from her husband, the Prime Minister, for his absence and his good wishes for the welfare of the society. "I also wish to pay my own tribute to this organisation," said Mrs. Fraser. "I don't know of any finer work being done anywhere in the world. Everyone knows that a country's greatest assets are its children, and your beloved founder of this great movement, the late Sir Truby King, knew that the future of the race is in the hands of the women. He knew that women can actually give or withhold health and that the future of the health of the nation is in their hands. The most fitting memorial to his memory is in the continuance and extension of the great

work which he started—the preservation and care of the health of women and children."

Mrs. Jowett read a circular which Sir Truby King had sent to the branches twelve years ago, in which he appealed for the loyal support of all the Plunket Society members.

"All mothers," said Mrs. Jowett, "realise that they are privileged to lay the foundation of the nation and they should have every facility which the country can give them. In times such as these there is a tendency to overlook some of the needs of national life, but it is in times such as these that they should be given greater support than ever before." Tributes were paid to the late Sir Truby King and also to the late Lady King by Mrs. Charles Gray and Mr. P. E. Patrick, a member of the advisory board. Tea was served at the conclusion of the meeting.