PLUNKET APPEAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1934, Page 3

PLUNKET APPEAL

DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE. The annual appeal of the Greymouth Plunket Society was made on Saturday when a bazaar was conducted in the Town Hall. The attendance was small, considering the deserving object of the appeal, and the sum of £57 17/10 (gross takings) realised by the effort was the lowest since the inception of the Plunket Society Branch in Greymouth, eight years ago. Members of the Committee expressed keen disappointment to a “Star" reporter. this morning, at the poor response bj’ the public, and it was rental It ed that the result oi the tifott was in no way a credit to the district. The attendance was not encouraging at any time of the day. and the fact illUt £f»7 was talcen was a tribute to the generosity of those few who did attend. It was stated that the small public support could hardly be credited, as the public were kept well informed of the doings of the Society, and could net but be impressed by the splendid work being carried put in the interests of child welfare and motherhood. The executive were not appreciative of the opposition they had to contend with, in the form of a shop day. and one member remarked that this was the first occasion in her experience that she had heard of any organisation in the Dominion, running opposition to the Plunket Society, on their recognised annual appeal day. The first Saturday in December had been the appeal day for the Plunket Society during the eight years of its existence here, and this year the appeal' had been advertised to a greater extent than usual.

The President Of the Greymouth Branch, Mrs F. M. Dennehy, said the result of the appeal was very disconcerting to the committee who had worked hard to make it a success, especially considering the fact that, as much as £B5 had been made at similar appeals in the past. The Branch had a great deal of expenditure to meet, not only in regard to district work, but in contributions to the Plunket Nurses’ Superannuation Fund, and a share of head office expenses, the latter amounting to £26 last year. She said the executive had decided to refer the difficulty to the Advisory Board for a direction as to whether it was desired that'Greymouth should carry on the work. If it was decided not to carry on. then.a request would have ,to be made to Hokitika or Runanga, to carry on the Branch, and let Greymouth remain a sub-branch, as it was found impossible to carry on with the money that was coming in. Every possible saving was made, but without the support of the people, 'the work must fail. [m the editor.] Sir, —Grossly appalling aptly describes the poor response to the Grey, mouth Plunket .Society’s appeal for funds on Saturday last to enable the unselfish and energetic body of lady workers to carry on with their worthy' object of saving the mothers and | helping the babies. It is apparent to me that unless Grcymouih and district citizens wake up and show sincerity in a more practical manner to those giving their services year in and year out to help those unable-to help themselves, the Plunket Society will soon be a thing of the past. To the writer, who is conversant with the struggle to find nurses’ salaries, let alone rental and other expenses, it seems hardly creditable that despite

recent appeals for other objects, in Greymouth, with less worthiness, allhough warranted, should meet with such unbounded success, the Plunket Society’s effort should meet with such disastrous results. It was indeed unfortunate that the United Tennis Club chose the same day for a similar function, particularly as the Plunket make one appeal yearly, although there may have been some misunderstanding. Either the tennis club’s intentions were purely unintentional, or perhaps they were under the impression that, their opposition would not be detrimental to the Plunket Society’s receipts. However, as previously suggested, immediate assistance is necessary and it behoves one and all to put our heads together, and make an endeavour to retain an ‘institution which has been respected and appreciated by hundreds of parents of the West Coast. I remain. PLUNKET ENTHUSIAST. fTO THE EDITOR. 1 Sir,—As a visitor to the Plunket Society's carnival and bazaar on Saturday last, allow me to express my d’sgust at the paltry support accorded to that hardworking hand of ladies, who work month m and mouth out in the interest of mothers and children. I think that the Advisory Committee should call a public meeting to consider ways and means of organising a monster bazaar or carnival to raise sufficient funds to put. the Society on a. sound financial footing. Money '.'.nd money in plenty, can be found for Less deserving objects, and I am sure if all entered into the spirit of the effort a huge success would ensue. — Yours etc., BONNY BABY.