PLUNKET ROOMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 125, 23 November 1944, Page 10

PLUNKET ROOMS

SPEEDY ACHIEVEMENT

ALL DONE IN A YEAR

Another milestone in the history of the Homedale-Wainui-o-mata district was reached on Saturday, when- the new Plunket rooms were opened. Many visitors were present from Wellington and Hutt, and parents and babies were well represented. Mr. Heath, president of the Progressive Association, said that the new rooms were tangible evidence of the spirit of co-operation existing throughout the district. Eighteen months ago there was no Plunket service nearer than the Hutt. When babies began to arrive at the rate of one every three weeks it was obvious that a Plunket room was needed. The ' Wainui-o-mata Development Company came to the rescue and presented the district with a section. This was now held in' trust by the Progressive Association. The association canvassed every house and there was no doubt about the response, those whose homes were as yet represented only by surveyors' pegs being as generous as those whose homes had been established for nearly, a hundred years. The company made

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finance immediately available and solved all the difficulties about water and electricity. Today the Plunket* rooms stood as the nucleus of a community health centre. Mr. Combs, M.P., congratulated the Plunket committee and the district on the speedy achievement of their objective. He stressed the. importance of such health centres and called to mind the early days of the Plunket movement under the guidance of its world-famous founder, the late Sir Truby King. Mr. Combs promised the committee a photograph of Sir. Truby King for the rooms. .

Mrs. Andrews, Mayoress of Hutt City, expressed the pleasure and satisfaction that the Hutt branch of the society felt at such an achievement after barely a year's work. She emphasised the need for pleasant and convenient surroundings for the very hard-worked Plunket nurses.

Mrs. Rishworth expressed the gratitude of the mothers and the local Plunket committee to the Development Company, the Progressive Association, and Mr. Scott, the builder, for the generous support that had been forthcoming on all occasions. Mrs. Len Wood, who was presented with a bouquet by Susan Jones,. one of the first group of Plunket children had the honour of declaring the rooms open.