The Hawera Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1924. THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 October 1924, Page 6

The Hawera Star

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1924. THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Delivered every, evening by 5 o'clock m Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okinawa, Eltham, Mangntoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otnkeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

Zealand set the world a great example when it established the Plunket Society to work in the interests of the health and welfare of the people of the Dominion. Many people doubted in its early -Jays if the institution would prove successful, but bit by bit the society gained ground and, as statistics began to accumulate bearing testimony to the excellent results of the society’s efforts, people lost their old prejudices, and to-day the majority realise that the Plunket Society is a most valuable institution, and its nurses are daily pursuing a course which is’ bringing to mothers and infants the greatest gift in life’s treasury—good health. Many a mother has been saved from -worry by the ministrations of the society, and children who were not very strong at birth have often benefited greatly from the treatment. In South Taranaki the work of the Plunket nursehas grown heavier year bv year, and the various branches have found their activities increasing. In the Hawera

district it would be impossible for the nurse to cover the ground without a car, and, realising that, a car was purchased a few years ago and has euabled the work to be extended. Its upkeep and expense are, however, proving somewhat of a strain upon the finances of the local society, and it is desired to improve the position. Many cases in country districts are attended by the Plunket nurse, and the running of the car over many miles of roads each week outside of the town is an expensive matter. The local branch of the society has between 130 and 140 members, who pay five shillings a year each as a subscription. A fair proportion of the members live outside the town, but with the large population contained in the district served j by the local branch it seems to us thati a considerably greater number of people! should become members, and so help the society in its work. The expense connected with the car provides a problem which the branch is finding difficulty in solving, but which must be faced. We would suggest that in each little centre in the district concerts and dances be arranged to (assist the society to meet the expense. In places some miles from town, the services of the Plunket nurse are obviously of greater value, and we do hope that in each centre where there is a hall a move will be made to institute concerts and dances at regular intervals, say, once a quarter. In this way the people who enjoy the benefits of the Plunket service wall be contributing regularly towards the cost of running the car out of town. The aim of the society is to make available for all the people the benefits of its system, and it is not in accordance with its principles to charge car mileage to the people whom the nurse visits. We think that the problem is one which can best be met by ' means such as we have suggested, and we hope that readers will not underestimate the importance of the matter, hut will readily give the society the support for which it asks.