PLUNKET SOCIETY

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1943, Page 3

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL M EETING

The annual meeting of the Greymouth Branch of the Plunket Society was held yesterday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) presided. Those present were: Mesdames. F. M. Donnelly, A. J. Fairmaid, L. Leahy, J. M. Macaulay, J. Smith, N. V. Lovell, G. Blair, E. Parfitt, F. A. Kitchingham, G. Boucher, V. Bond, J. Griffin, K. McCarthy, and Miss Anderson. Brunner sub-Branch was represented by Mesdames Wylde, Mahon and Coates. The Chairman, referring to the report and balance-sheet, remarked that all branches with the exception of Moana, appeared to be fulfilling their function of keeping Plunket work '‘flourishing. He hoped 'ihe Moana district residents would endeavour, despite the difficulties present in country areas, to revive the Branch. Plunket committees were doing exceedingly important work, and he congratulated all concerned. Healthy children meant healthy adults. Medical examinations for war service showed that the health oi' New Zealanders was much poorer than it should be. Statistics proved the fact that whereas the group up to live years oi age used to be the largest in ihe community, it had now shrunken to such an extent that in the future, unless the birthrate was considerably raised, the majority of the population would be persons past the prime of life- and beyond their wol’king years, with consequently a bigger proportion on Social Security. He moved that the report and balance sheet be received and adopted. —Seconded by Mrs Lovell and carried.

Mrs Dennehy expressed her disappointment at tne absence of representatives of the sub-branches and committees. The attendance at meetings of cielegates from the various areas was important in that it helped to keep them in touch with each other and to acquaint them with the working of the district as a whole. If presidents and secretaries could not attend, they should appoint other committee-women in their stead. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mrs F. M. Dennehy; vice--1 presidents: Mesdames J. O’Brien, F. A. Kitchingham, H. R. Barrett and A. J. Fairmaid; executive: Mesdames F. H. Denton, F. A. Kitchingham, J. O’Brien, .1. IVI. Bunt, A. .1. Fairmaid: committee: Mesdames Harvey, Leahy, Olson, McKechnie, Smith, Bair, Bond, Parfitt, Fahey, Macaulay, Boucher, Griffen, Lovell, Taylor, Miss Anderson; Advisory Board: Drs W. McKay, J. F. C. Moore, W .A. Bird, H. S. Ray, D. IVL Logan; Messrs J. O’Brien, M.P., F. A. Kitchingham, W. Meldrum, J. VV. Greenslade, L. D. McGlashan. A. M. Jamieson and P. Coll; hon. secretary, Mrs K. McCarthy;’ hon. treasurer, Mr A. Warnes; hon. auditor, Mr P. C. 1-leaphy; hon. solicitor, Mr J. W. Hannan; Hokitika, representatives: Mesdames Mclntyre and Mitchell; Reefton representatives, Mesdames j Harris and Crossman; Ikamatua representatives: Mesdames Pfahlert and Cullen. Ross representatives: Mesdames Peebles and Jones; Blackball representatives: Mesdames Mason and Rae; Hari Hari representatives: Mesdames Martini and Ford; Brunner representatives: Mesdames Wylde and Coates; Runanga representatives: Mesdames Timlin and Howard.

The Committee’s annual report stated: The highlight of the year was our occupation in February of the new Plunket Rooms in the Centennial Memorial Building. The appointments are ideal and make for pleasant working conditions for our nurses as well as comfort and convenience for mothers. The Committee is deeply indebted to our President who donated the furnishings for the new rooms. All the sub-branches and sub-committees, with the exception

of Moana, report a successful year and express gratitude to their supporters. Due to removals from the district of several committee members and wartime restrictions on petrol, the Moana Committee round it impossible, because of the scatteieu nature of the settlements, to carry on and have disbanded temporarily. Their President (Mrs Taylor) and secretary (Mrs White), however, have expressed their willingness jo hem the* work in the district, to tne best of their abi'ity. The pre-school clinics at Hokitika and Greymouth under Dr. Dorothy Simpson s supeivision are being well attended. Distribution of oranges was undertaken by committees du;, mg the year ana although it entailed a considerable 'amount of extra work for our nurses, was appreciated by mothers. rne Plunket Aids in Greymouih great assistance in helping with tne sales at the local rooms and our thanks are due to them lor this work and also in their eH'orts m connection with our annual appeal day. Monetary assistance from the efforts of the Advisory’ Board members wa.s much appreciated and in this connection we wish especially to thank Messrs A .M. Jamieson and L. D. McGlashan. We extend thanks also to the many people to whom we are indebted i'ov assistance, to the subbranch committees for their Joyal support and to our nurses for • their splendid work. NURSES’ REPORT During the year at intervals, mild epidemics oi measles, influenza, colds and coughs retarded quite a number of the babies’ progress; however, on the whole it has otherwise been very good except in the case of a few who have been definitely unsatisfactory. Working in these beautifully fresh and clean rooms has been very pleasant, and we both appreciate the, conveniences here and our Presi-' deni’s generosity in providing sol many extras, which have made work-I ing conditions' so much easier. The Gfeymouth balance-sheet showed: —Receipts: Balance £5411 15/9, annual subscriptions £lO9 2/10, contributions local authorities £3O/10/-, donations £228/13/10, sub-branches £lBO/3/6, Government subsidy £297/14/5, sale products £26/10/10, sale oranges £134/4/4, interest Post Office £7/15/6; total, £1556/11/-. Expenditure: Nurses’ salaries £533 15/2, nurses’ travelling expenses £9 6/3, rent, cleaning, light, fuel £69 10/-, advertising, printing and office expenses £56/6/8, Karitane products £22/11/11, Patriotic Society account oranges £23/19/4, purchases oranges £llO/5/-, motor car allowance £4B, headquarters’ superannuation levy £27/15/5, contribution to head office expenses £3O/2/6, balance Union Bank £315/5/4, balance Post Office £279/13/5, balance trust fund £3O; total, £1556/11/-. The President entertained those present at afternoon tea, at the close of the meeting. j