PLUNKET SOCIETY

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1937, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY

Annual Meeting SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The Deputy Mayor (Mr. A. H. MeKane) occupied the chair at the annual meeting of the Greymouth Plunket Society held yesterday afternoon There were also present Mesdames J. O’Brien (acting-President) Fletcher, Ramage, Carter, Baty, McKane, Oliver, Morland, Fredericks, Meldrum, Bunt, Timlin and Dickel (Runanga) Basset (Hokitika), Peebles and Jones (Ross), Miss M. Anderson (acting-Secretary) and Mr J. O’Brien M.P. Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor (Mr. Meldrum). Mesdames F. M. Dennehy (President) and M J. Phillips (Secretary), both of whom are indisposed, H. R. Barrett, Trott, Webber, Leahy, Denton and Wallis. The annual report as already published was received on the motion of Mesdames Timlin and Fredericks. » Mr. McKane congratulated the Society on the work accomplished during the year, and said that many sacrifices had been made to carry on a work so essential to the infant life of the country. During the year over 12,000 visits had been received and paid by the two nurses indicating the vast scope of the Society’s workon the West Coast. Only those Intimately connected with the Society knew the amount of detail involved in its work. It was a great responsibility for those on the committee, for the organisation embraced districts as far apart as Reefton, and Harihari. The amount of travelling thus done by the nurses was nighly creditable to them, and he knew how well they performed their duties. Mostly they travelled by bicyle in all kinds of weather, and this was dune with love and affection for those they attended. The publ c was grateful for the work of the nurses. Mr. McKane extended the' ch a: ks 'of rhe community to the • :.>■< -bice and nurses for carrying cut a noble work, which, he said placed them high in public estimation. Mr O’Brien M.P. endorsing Mi’ McKane’s remarks congratulated the committee on the fine showing made for the year The balance sheet and report spoke for themselves and he knew from his experience of public Jodies that there was never such a sucessful report as the present one both financially and from the point of view of the work accomplished. There w’as a great amount of work being done locally by the Society and he would say that the Plunket Society’s work was mainly responsible for the Prime Minister’s boast that. New Zealand had the lowest infant mortality in the world. No tribute the speaker could pay would be adequate to express the community’s appreciation of the Society’s work on the West Coast. Mrs. O’Brien, on behalf of the parent branch expressed' warm thanks to the Sub-branches and commitees for their fine work in the Society’s interests. At times she thought that perhaps the parent body did not do as much as it might for the Sub-branches but it was not that they overlooked them at all. The committee was grateful for the work of the Sub-branches in their respective districts (Applause). Mesdames Bassett, Timlin and Peebles thanked Mrs. O’Brien for her remarks and each extended thanks for the help and encouragement given by the Grey Society. On the motion of Mesdames Carter and O’Brien the report was adopted. Speaking on the balance sheet,, Mr McKane said that every branch had a credit balance on which they deserved congratulation. He pointed out that the funds raised received one third Government subsidy, so that the Government assisted to a considerable extent. The public had nowhere been lacking in their contribution of the necessary finance and as a result all had satisfactory balances. He trusted they would continue to flourish financially. Mr. McKane moved and Mrs Meldrum seconded the adoption of the balance sheet which was carried. OFFICERS ELECTED. The election of officers resulted as follows:— President: Mrs. F. M. Denehy (reelected unopposed). Vice-Presidents: Mesdames J. O’Brien, H. G. Carter, R. Ramage, H. R. Barrett, W. Meldrum, A. H. Wylde and Miss M. A. Anderson. Committee: Mesdames Fredericks, Ramage, Marks, Smith, Wallis, Baty, Phillips, Bunt Webber, McKane and Oliver with the addition of last year's members. Advisory Committee; Last years committee with the additions of Dr. W. J. Dickel (Runanga) and Mr. A. H. McKane. Hon Secretary: Miss Anderson moved that the appointment be held over until Mrs. Phillips returned from Christchurch. The. motion was carried. Hon Treasurer Mr. E. Warnes (reelected.) , Hon Auditor: Mr. P. C. Heaphy (re-elected). Hon Solicitor: Mr. J. W. Hannan (re-elected). Runanga representatives: Mesdames Timlin and Dickel; Hokitika: Mesdames Bassett and Wilson-; Reefton held over; Ross: Mesdames Peebles and Ross-Jones; Blackball: Mesdames Cambell and Quinn; Hari hari: held over. Mrs. Ramage said that there should be an active men’s committee more especially so that they could have assistance at the ball and functions. Mr. McKane suggested that the committee women’s husbands could be invited to form the committee. Mrs. Bassett said that prior to their ball at Hokitika they set up a committee of men. Mrs. Ramage said that the advisory Board could form the committee. Mrs. Fredericks suggested that some arrangement be made so that the advisory doctors would treat children free of charge on the recommendation of the Plunket Nurse. It should apply to necessitious cases. Mrs. Timlin supported the suggestion. The chairman said that the suggestion was a good one, but it should first be discussed by the committee with the medical attendants. Mr. O’Brien said that the doctors already did much work voluntarily in cases of necessitous cases, and he felt sure that the doctors would meet the Society fairly. The matter was left to the com- ( mittee.

On Mrs. O’Brien’s motion a vote of thanks to the Deputy-Mayor for presiding was carried by acclamation. Mrs. Oliver suggested that the Plunket Society should approach the Borough Council with a view to having the present Plunket Roomturned into the reading room and the reading room converted into a women’s rest room with cubicles a ’’ lavatories on the penny in the slot system, the money thus derived to provided the salary for a woman in charge. Mr. McKane said that ther” ” not a member of the Council who was not conversant with the position. The Civic Square Scheme madr ample provision for rest rooms, and public conveniences. The scheme would avoid the necessity of doing the job piecemeal. No amount of argument at the present .would persuade the Council to do anything which was provided for in the Civic Square scheme until the ffiatter was finally dealt with. Every member of the Council appreciated to the ful’ the necessity for provision of a res room. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Press proposed by Mesdames O’Brien and Carter, after which afternoon tea was served by the nurses.