PRESERVING LIFE

Evening Star, Issue 22191, 20 November 1935, Page 7

PRESERVING LIFE

VALUE DF PLUNKET SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING OF LOCAL BRANCH The tremendous value of the Plunket Society in preserving life was emphasised by death rate percentage figures quoted by’ the deputy mayor (Or F. Jones, M.P.), who presided at tho twenty-eighth annual meeting of tho Dunedin branch of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, held in the Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. In moving the adoption of the annual report the Chairman said that when one looked back over a period of 28 years one must realise the great value the society had been to the community. Not only in this Dominion did the society perform its good work, but also in other countries. When one compared the death rate percentage figures of 27 years ago with those of to-day one would immediately see the wonderful work that had been inaugurated by Sir Truby King. The death rate per 1,000 under one year between 1906-10 was 69.62 per cent.; the 1911-15 figure was 53.63; 1916-20, 48.62; 1921-25, 42,75; 1926-30, 36.70; and 1933, 31.14. New Zealand could justly bo proud of having tho lowest death rate among infants of any other country ■in the world, and this fact, ho considered, was due in the main to the great work of the Plunket Society, which _ had laid down the foundation of tho care of young children. As an instance of the care taken by the Plunket Society workers in Dunedin he mentioned tho case of the famous quadruplets. On behalf of the city he extended sincere thanks to the society for the good work it was performing. Dr E. H. Williams seconded the motion. and said that while he was attending the recent medical conference at Melbourne one dr two interesting points in connection with Plunket work arose, but due to the rush for time there ho was _ unable to bring back much information regarding the work there. One point that particularly struck him was that wherever he went lie met a universal affection for Sir Truby King. He found ample evidence to testify to the universal work Sir Truby bad inaugurated. When he .visited one institution ho was impressed by the fact that the system of training the nurses there was almost identical witli the-system employed here. The authorities' there were considering lengthening the period of the senior nurses from four to six months, and there was also to be an extension for the junior nurses. The appearance of the children he saw reminded him of the children in Dunedin. The weather at the time was not sub-tropical, but rather cold. This, lie thought, might account for the appearance of the children in the two places being so similar. The motion was carried. OFFICE-BEARERS.

The following office-bearers were elected: —President, Mrs Joseph M'George; vice-presidents—Lady Allen. Lady Sidey, Mesdames J. M. Galloway and James Begg; committee —Mesdames A. H. Allen, Arundel. A. Barnett, A.' Begg, R. S. Black. T. Brown, F. IT. Carr, Cairney, L. F. Cleghorn, Sandford Cox, Cnnninghame, F. E. Clappcrton, jun., J. B. Dawson. J. A. Hamm. Clarke Hanan, Hayes (Seacliff), Mandeno, Maurice Myers, J. M. Paterson, A. Pratt, S. Paris, D. Reid, G. R. Ritchie, K. Ross, T. C. Ross, Solomon, N. Speight, T. K. S. Sidey, D. Solomon. W. B. Taverner, John Watson, Williams, W. Wilson, H. J. M‘Gregor, Misses Joachim, E. and N. Reid, and Downie Stewart, 0.8. E., Messrs L. G. Tuck

and A. C. Cameron, Mesdames Gillou and Lymlsay Allan (Mosgiel), Walmsley, sen., and Stewart (Ontram), W. J. M'Kenney and Wliittlcston (Palmerston). Kelly and Matheson (Dunback), W. H. Murcott and M. C. Watt (Hampden). Mrs Townshcnd and Miss Valentino (Waikouaiti) ; Advisory Board —Sir Percy Sargood, Messrs Peter Barr, P. H. Carr, P. L. Halsted, Leslie Harris, Janies Hogg, G. 11. Ritchie; 1). Tannock, Dr C. E. Horens, D. 5.0., Sir Truby King, C.M.G. VOTE OF THANKS. Lady Sidcy thanked the City Council for its generous annual gift to the branch of the society, and moved a vote of thanks to Air Jones for presiding and to the council for the use of the chamber. The motion was carried bv acclamation.

The singing of the National Anthem closed the meeting.