PLUNKET SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 15929, 8 October 1915, Page 6

PLUNKET SOCIETY

The monthly meeting of the Royal New Zealand Society for Health of Women and Children was held in the Town Hail to-day; present—Mesdames Carr (in the chair), King, Theomin, J. Ross, Gilkison, Jas. Allen, Aiken. J. C. M ‘George, -Worrell, Marshall, Miss Gow, Miss Joac’ im, and the hon. secretary (Mrs J. M'Georgt). The Matron of the Karitane Hospital reported : Number of babies admitted 8, number of babies discharged 8, mothers in residence_ 1, greatest number in residence at any one time 18, number it; residence on September 30, 15. Of the eight cases admitted during the month four came from Dunedin, one from Melbourne, one from .Oamaru, one from Wyndham, one from Mosgiel. All those discharged had made satisfactory progress. Six mothers brought then- babies in for weighing before and after feeding. All the babies in the hospital aro making satisfactory progress. The following sab for their examination as Karitane baby nurses and passed successfully; —Misses Martin, Christie, and Annetts. Ou September 27 a lecture was given to the girls at Archerfield. Gifts have been received from the following ; —Mesdames Edie, Gardiner, Ross, Hamilton, Bridgcman, Nurse Christie, and Miss Reach. The hon. treasurer reported tho receipt, of £SB Is maintenance for the mouth, also a number of donations and subscriptions. The Plunket mutes reported : New cases for tho month 36, cases on tho list 1,C03, babies solely breast fed 81, babies partially 40. visits to homes 555, visits to Plunket room 265, bottles of-humanised milk sent out 8.455.

The resignation of Mrs Laing as Finn--ket nurse for Dunedin Central district was accepted.

Re lectures by Pinnket nurses in school.? the secretary of the Education Board wrote enclosing tho following letter from M r G. R. Richardson, senior inspector With regard to the application for permission to deliver lectures on tho care of infants, etc., to girls of tho upper standards in the public schools, I have to say that I have submitted tho matter t<> the Education Department with the view of ascertaining

whether these lectures might be substi

tuted for tho lessons now given in hygiene in connection with tlio cookery

classes, and have received a reply to the effect that the department is unable to approve of the substitution. Under thc-so circumstances, the only course I can suggest is that permission he given b> deliver the lectures after school hours at the manual training centres or at convenient schools, f cannot recommend tiie board to allow any portion of tho school timo to be devoted to this work, as tins would mean tho neglect of subjects which ths department has laid dowu as compuU sory. I am of opinion that the proper place for commencing this work is in tho High and Technical Schools.

Tlio committee expressed their regret at tho unsatisfactory reply to their efforts to bring about this necessary education for girls at- an early stage.