GREY PLUNKET SOCIETY

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1945, Page 7

GREY PLUNKET SOCIETY

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ’ monthly meeting of the Grevmouth branch of the Plunket Society, Mrs F. M. Dennehy presided, and there were also present: Mesdames Kitchingham, Roud, lan maid, Macauly, Parfitt. Olson, Hughes, Coleman, Joyce, Boucher, McCarthy and Miss’ Anderson. The proposal for the purchase 0. a car for the nurses, to relieve them ot much inconvenient travelling, was discussed. , , . Mrs Wood, of Christchurch, forwarded reports on her visits to Runanga and Hokitika sub-branches. S'he stated that Runanga was in favour of tiie proposal. Hokitika, while realising the necessity of a car to visit isolated, districts, was not prepared to adopt the scheme until nilormation was forthcoming as to the cost of the proposal in their area. The President said that at the Greymouth meeting addressed by Mrs Wood it had been decided to ask the Advisory Board to purchase a car, and to join with the Committee in forming' a car sub-committee whose function would be to control all matters connected with the purchase and running of rhe car. It had also been suggested that the two sub-branches should each appoint a representative. Since the nurse’s car had been used in the area the Greymouth committee had paid running expenses to country districts, the total costs of which were almost 10 times that ol the town running, because the Greymouth committee realised the necessity of helping mothers in isolated parts of the district. Runanga, Brunner and Blackball committees met the expenses in their areas, and were prepared to continue so doing. Kumara, who had a representative on the Grevmouth committee, had for the last" two years done more than their share towards the car. Ikamatua had indicated they would co-operate. She therefore was disappointed at the view that had been taken by The Hokitika and Reefton sub-branches. The scheme was not intended to benefit any particular locality—the aim was to relieve the nurses of much inconvenient travelling, long hours and cycling in unfavourable weather, and to extend the Plunket work in lhe whole area. Headquarters had stated that without a car the district would find it difficult to obtain nurses. The Secretary announced that Mrs Dennehy had made a donation which would help considerably with the initial cost of the car. Mrs Macauly outlined a photographic competition scheme which she proposed should be run to obtain funds for the purchase of a car. It was decided to adopt th fi suggestion, and the proposer and Mesdames Joyce, Roud, Boucher and Olson were elected to inaugurate the scheme. Reefton sub-branch wrote that they were not prepared to use the. car, as they considered the train service was suitable. The nurses’ report for last monr.n was as follows: Headquarters: New cases 12; visits to homes, new 20, old 133; to rooms, adults 199, babies 182, pre-school 21. Out-stations: New cases 20; visits to homes, new 28, old 85; to rooms, adults 229, babies 222, pre-school 22. Total visits to district 875. Babies under supervision 554, pre-school 201. Car mileage 264. Arthur’s Pass was visited for the first time, and mothers were very appreciative, though they.understand that the nurse can attend there only while the numbers at Otira are small.