The Hawera Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1924. THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 September 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1924. THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Delivered every evening l by S o’clock in Hawera, ManoiS. N^nnanby, Okaiawa, Eltbam, Pa tea, Waverley, Hokoia, WLakashara, Obanga*, Meretnere. Fraser Road, and Otakeiio Manutahi, Alton, Harley ville, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

The conference of representatives of. the various branches of the Plunket. Society -held in Wellington last week discussed questions of interest and importance to the community. The Society, which was founded by Dr. Truby King, has done splendid,.work, and its success is clearly indicated bythe reduced mortality among infants during recent years. The Society has; clearly, gained the trust and 'confidence of the people throughout the Dominion, and its fame has spread abroad to such an extent that other countries are setting up similar organisations. Dr. Truby King states that, the Society, does not- teach new methods for the care of infants, but tells mothers how to treat their children so that they will thrive under proper hygienic attention and feeding. Careful study has shown that the infants require definite quantities of food at regular intervals, plenty of fresh air, and proper sleep, and that careless, haphazard -feeding at irregular intervals gives rise 1 to troubles which may last a lifetime. The Society aims at giving infants and their mothers the opportunities'which in the days before its existence were often lost through ignorance, and, not only do the statistics indicate that there are many children living to-day who would probably have died had not the aid of the Plunket Society been available, but we believe that many children born with weak constitutions have benefited greatly from the proper feeding and attention in which the'--mothers have been instructed by tjhe Plunket nurses. The Society now has branches in all parts of the Dominion, and its work has increased so greatly, especially in the country district's, that the nurses are constantly engaged, while some would welcome assistants were the funds sufficient to provide them. Government aid in the shape of a subsidy has been requested, the Society’s deputation stating that it- desired to secure an institution for the training of maternity nurses, and Mr Massey has promised to bring the request before Cabinet. The work is one thatshould' appeal to all, and the branches are deserving of generous support bv the people of the districts which they serve. In South Taranaki, as the reports of the nurses show, the services of the Society are sought by a large' number of mothers,)dnd we are hopeful

that more people will become members of the branches and contribute to the funds to enable, the splendid work To be carried on without the anxiety which arises when insufficient money is available. The Society and its nurses have at heart the benefits which they can give to mothers and infants, and they are most generous in their efforts. The least that a thankful community can do is to show that it has a live interest in the Society and to contribute in large numbers to its funds. The nation needs strong healthy citizens, and the natural advantages possessed by New Zealand, coupled with the excellent work which Dr Truby King started and which has proved so successful, should enable it to maintain its leading position in the world for well-built and healthy citizens, a people imbued with noble ideals and keen to make their Dominion even happier for all, from earliest childhood to old age.