WORLD RENOWNED

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 63, 12 September 1945, Page 10

WORLD RENOWNED

PLUNKET SOCIETY'S WORK

The international aspect of Plunket work was the subject of an address given by Nurse J. W. Samson, Plunket Charge Nurse, at the English-speaking Union's rooms yesterday. Nurse Samson stressed particularly the fact that New Zealand led the world in this sphere. Through the tireless and inspired efforts of Sir Truby King, founder of the Plunket Society, New Zealand's advancement in the care of children had made the Dominion a universally admired country. Nurse Samson traced the progress of Sir Truby King from his work as doctor in charge of the mental home, Seacliff, in Dunedin. From noting the high mortality rate among the stock on the Dunedin farms. Dr. Truby King set about improving the stock on the Seacliff estate until his research led lo'his cattle and sheep being the finest in those parts. Naturally, he aroused the perplexity of his farmer neighbours with the result that they were anxious to learn his new methods. Dr. Truby King then turned his thoughts to human beings, and, deploring the high infant mortality rate of the country, began lecturing on his new system of the care of babies, with those same farmers his first audiences. SUPPOIIT OF LADY PLUNKET. Without the sympathy and enterprise of Lady Plunket, who travelled the country lecturing upon the new Truby King system, said Nurse Samson, the great doctor's work would never have progressed. With the highest lady of the land giving the new movement her support, mothers who previously refused Dr. Truby King even an examination of their children now began to show interest. In 1907 Dr. Truby King drew up a chart to be followed in selecting a Plunket Society committee, and that system was still in use, today, said Nurse Samson. Representatives of every religion and of most business sections of the community were chosen as a committee in order that ideas and suggestions would come from all types of people. SERVICE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. The mother of today, said Nurse Samson, possibly took the advantages offered by the Plunket Society just as she used her electric light, her radio, and telephone, without thought of" the inconvenience experienced before they were brought into- being. In other countries, women had had to struggle to establish a Plunket Society which had the distinction of being the only organisation in the world that catered for the whole community. Nurse Samson visited Cromwell House in England, which is a huge hospital run on lines identical with die Plunket system in New Zealand Here, they had bigger problems to c.eal with. Tn New Zealand the standards of living and education were higher, everyone spoke the .same language, and there were no difficulties in overcoming cosmopolitan ideas and customs. When Bernard Shaw visited New Zealand he was especially interested in the Plunket system and /marvelled at its efficiency in combating infant mortality, said Nurse Samso/j. In New Zealand, she continued, every Plunket nurse must train at Dunedin so that the system taught by individual nurses in different parts of the country was fundamentally the same. Established in New Zealand at present were 70 branches of the Plunket Society, 700 sub-branches, and 150 trained Plunket nurses, apart from the Karitanc nurses and six Karitane hospitals. WORLD INTEREST. To emphasise the international aspect of Plunket work, Nurse Samson talked of her experiences as one of the 50 nurses from New Zealand attending an international conference held in England in 1938. Here, she said, New Zealanders were applauded and congratulated upon the marvellous Plunket system which they could claim as. their own. The delegates were all anxious to learn of Plunket methods and considered New Zealand a fine, progressive country in its splendid awareness of maternity problems. Interest had been shown all over the world, said Nurse Samson, who quoted instances in Russia, Rumania, and Germany that proved Truby King to be a name revered in all countries. Mrs. Good, president of the Englishspeaking Union, thanked Nurse Samson for her address, and presented her with a bouquet of spring flowers. 400 AT VICTORY BALL Flags of the United Nations decorated the Majestic Cabaret for the victory ball held last evening by James Smith, Ltd. Members of." the staff and friends, numbering almost.4oo, were present and the ball was highly successful. At the official table were Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Smith, Messrs. D. A. and B. K. Smith and party. The committee responsible for the arrangements of the ball comprised Misses M. Williams, R. Watson, V. Woods, M. Brown, and Messrs. B. Krause. P. Stone, G. Kernick, and J. O'Sullivan.

Vocal and tap-dancing items were given during the evening by ; Miss Leigh Brewer.