PLUNKET SOCIETY

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 576, 30 May 1925, Page 5

PLUNKET SOCIETY

THE FETLDTNC BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The annual general meeting of 'the Fcilding bran eh of the Plunket Society was held in the Oddfellow’s .11 all yesterday afternoon, The Mayor Mr W. E. Carthcw, oecuping the chair. There was a large atiendanec, including Cr. A. 11. Sutton, Mr R. (..'ohhe, the Rev. Father T. .1. Cahill. The .meeting stood in silence as a tribute to the honour of the late Premier Massey and in sympathy with Mrs ftlassey and family in their lit reavement.

THE ANNUAL REPORT The secretary.. Mrs S. G. Walpole, presented the eighth annual report: The past year has been most successful. The importance of the work has been realised and taken advantage of by in any mothers. During the year the nurse visited <lO2 homes, 1185 adults visited the rooms, and l.l()0 children received attention. There were 95 new babies and 36 birth no tires were sent out. The new rooms have proved a veritable boon to the mothers and nurse, and the thanks of the committee are due to the ex-Mayor, Mr 3. S. Tingev, and to Cr. A. 11. Sutton wlio so kindly helped in securing them. It is wished to place on record our appreciation of the unlading courtesy of these two gen-' tinmen. In May of last gear Nurse llogerson left the branch, alter achieving splendid results as the report shows. Her place was taken by Nurse Ogden, who was relieved by Nurse Jones, both ,

whom the committee takes this opportunity of thanking for the manner in which they have carried on thr work. Again we are obliged to remind those benefiting by the Society that the working expenses are now considerable, and that their assistance is*absolutely essential to enable the work to, continue. The committee feels that the time has arrived to obtain a resident nurse in order to carry out the work with the best results, and Ihe Central Council was being approached with the view. A branch has been opened at Rongotca, and has now sufficient funds in hand to provide for a visiting Nurse one day a week. The committee desires to thank the members of the Fcilding Borough Council fdr its practical interest in the Society, also the press, the Fcilding Brass Band, Messrs Bain and Co., Clift Dowriek. Haythorn, Cliallis, Hill, Johnston. Stokes, Hanger, and 11 ’ M. Hare (bon auditor). We especially wish to thank Mesdamcs 1 laythorne, Lodge, Hanger and R. Cobbc, who so ably arranged the dances held, it being entirely due to their efforts that the funds were so greatly augmented. Thanks are also returned to all those helping in any way during the past year.

The sla t omen t of receipts and expenditure showed a, balance in tin: Post Oflice Havings Bank of I'ld os •'ld and a balance in the Hank of X.nv Zealand of .£6l 2s.

ELECT I OX OF OFFICERS The following officers were elected lor the ensuing year: Patroness, Airs \V. h. Carthew. President, Mrs Hugden, Vice-President, Mrs Walpole. Ladies’ committee, Mesdamos Atkinson, G. Turnbull, Bousficld, U'. Burrell, R. Cobbe, Manger. Phillips, Wheeler, Gibson, SJiapliu, Kingston, Dowiick, Allen Lodge, Mills, Gorton, Walpole and Stalker. Men’s Committee, Messrs K, .Hanger, N. C. Harding, G. ivingston, A. T 1 Sutton, R.' Cobbe, •and Dr. Phillips. Secretary, Mrs H. Hanger It was regretted by the President that Airs Walpole could not carry on in the position of secretary for another term. Mrs Walpole had occupied that office since the inception ol the branch eight years ago, and to her thanks and appreciation ol the manner in which the duties entailed had been conducted were extended.

AN ADDRESS ON PLUNKET--ISM Mr R. Cobbe gave an address on Plunkefc work in Feilding and elsewhere. The movement was one with national ideals and a wide appeal .to humanity. “The visit of a Plunket nurse is like a light in a, dark forest to young mothers of this country,” said the speaker, and alter the experience of Mrs Cobbe and himself in the backblock up the Wanganui river some years ago they could appreciate to the full the advice and assistance of the Plunket system. “If the fathers in Feilding realised that the peaceful nights they spend are due to the Plunket ''system, it would not be necessary to appeal for funds. I would suggest to the president that if donators are lacking, she should instruct the nurse lo give advice that will cause the

babies to cry at night and your deficit will soon be > remedied.” (laughter). It- was the object of the Societies to case the dangerous road of motherhood with advice and with the cave and assistance of nurses enable the babies of this country to grow'up into healthy and vigorous citizens. In jfchis country to-day, there was an expensive immigration department that, since its inception 50 years ago, had spoilt £2,689,000. It had served a purpose in bringing those who desire opportunity in a new country, and the majority of those who came out under its auspices were a credit to the Empire, making good in the land of their adoption. But there was a local immigration department in New Zealand manned by unpaid officials dependent, on the State for only a very small portion of its expenses ♦end carrying on a work of National importance. He ventured to sav that the indies of the Plunkct Socity who manned this department got better and more lasting results than the official immigration department. Public men talked at length of the falling birth-rate and advocate an increase in it. They virtually asked the mothers of the Dominion to go into the val ley of death for the sake < f the State, but they are not prepared to spend sufficient to instruct and help those mothers in the duties they would impose upon them. He hoped that years would bring to all a realisation that children were the hope of an enduring Empire, and that the dead nations of the oast started to decay when motherhood and he children failed to obtain the recognition and approval of those in the seats of power. The local Society had been very fortunate in its Executive officers, and the self-sacrificing work of Mrs Sugden, and Mrs .Walpole would appeal to all. Jf Fcilding appreciated jtlie Society’s good work, its influence for healthier and happier children, its aid in assisting the mothers in the rearing of men and women of to-morrow then it should show that appriciation by voluntary donations to f-hft Fcilding Plunkct Society. “Contributors will then be partners in the finest immigration department in the world and it is a department that pays a dividend to the parents another to the State and a final one to the Empire, of which New Zealand is a Part, concluded Mr Cobbe. i i’-e chairman endorsed the speaker’s remarks, and proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Cobbe which was carried by acclamation. Cr. Sutton proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Carthcw. ’f he visitors and members were mtlertaincd at: a dainty afternoon tea.