PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 May 1928, Page 9

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

IT A WEE A BRANCH. ANNUAL -MEETING OF MEMBEES. Tlie annual meeting of the Hawera Branch of the Royal New Zealand So: citify for the Health of Women and Children was held in the plunket rooms yesterday, at which there was an attendance of 20 members. The president (.Mrs. M. C. Goodson) occupied the chair. FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPOBT. The fifteenth annual report, _ copies of which had previously been circulated among the members, was taken as rea t i and adopted without discussion. The report stated that the branch was able to show that a steady progress lias been maintained throughout the year. The members of the committee ha<> worked hard and pulled well together and deserved thanks for the devotion they have shown to the cause. The country sub-branches, Manaia, Opunake and Kaponga were also making good progress. At the last annual meeting, Mrs. Winks, who had capably filled the position as president, resigned, and Mrs. Goodson was appointed in her place. A number of new members were also added to the committee. During the 3'ear Mr. ißrodie resigned the position of Hon. Solicitor as he was leaving Hawera. Mr. Chuck kindly consented to take the vacant position. The following resignations from the committee were regretfully received: Mosdamcs Brodie, Barbour, Blair, Sellars, and-'Newberry. Thanks were due to Mr. Jobson for his supervision of the ear this year. During the year very successful shop days were held also a bring and buy afternoon. The committee greatly appreciate the generous consideration shown by the committee of the winter show and summer show, they both having again given 'free space for the hoop-la stand. Without such concessions as these expenses would be much heavier. Thanks were due to the sergeant of police for his usual donation of pettv fines, amounting to £1 15s 9d. “Finally, we again thank Nurse Dix for the great interest she fakes in her work, always being ready to attend to calls, even in her own time, and the mothers realise that they have' someone that they can trust implicitly,’l concluded the report.

NURSE’S REPORT. Plunket Nurse L. M. Dix’s report on the year’s operations was Os follows: — Attendance at Plunket Offices. — ITawera: Adults, 3,685; infants, 4198., Manaia: Adults, 821; infants, 1,088. Opunake: Adults, 421; infants, 522. Kaponga: Adults, 402; infants, 483. Total, 11,•620.

Nurse’s Visits to Homes. —Hawera: Old, 2,219; new, 589. Manai’a: Old, 341; new, 56. Opunake: Old, 240; new, 24. Kaponga: Old, 293; new, 24. Total 3,795. New- eases, 424. Hygiene and mothercraft, 333. Hawera 463, Manaia 84, Opunake 106, Kaponga 92. Total 720. Babies whol.lv or partially brbastfed, 247. Letters received, 42; letters ■written, 32. Total 74.

The report of 1927-2,8 shows an increase in the number of eases dealt with at the plunket offices, both at Hawera and out-stations, and would go to show that the work of the society' is being carried forward to some extent by members and mothers who have benefited by plunket treatment. The various branches have kept up a marked interest 'in the work of the society, but there is still need for increased attention to be devoted to the out-stations in order to educate the mother in regard to the worth of the society. The car, which has been kept in good order, is a very great help in this connection.

It has boon my aim to keep anteXntal work well to the front so that more amt more attention may be given to this most important 'branch of pjunltet work. •My grateful thanks are given to the Hawera committee, and also to the committee’s, secretary and treasurer of Hawera and of the sub-branches, for their ever ready and much appreciated help. In conclusion, I feel that the year just closed has been one of progress and success.

THE BALANCE-SHEET. Commencing the year with a credit balance of £241) 7s Bd, and with added receipts amounting to £747 13 s 9d the receipts side at March 31 showed a total of ££M>3 Is sd. Against this there stood an expenditure of £6lB 4s Id, leaving a credit balance of £374 17s 4d —a profit of £129 9s 8d on the year’s work.

Tlie principal sources of revenue were proceeds of shop days (£B6 6s lOd), Winter Show receipts (£ll9 7s 6d), Government, grant for nurse (£125), and the sale of emulsion and karilac (£177 13s Id), against which item there was, however, a heavy' purchase expenditure of £174 16s Id. Receipts from sub-branches were: Alanaia £69 10s, Opunake £3O 15s Od, Kaponga £36 15s—a total of £137 Os Gd. Tlie chief items of expenditure comprised the nurse’s salary' and bonus (£254), running, upkeep and insurance of car (£B9 10s 2d), and the purelia'se of emulsion and karilac.

A duly audited statement of assets and liabilities showed a surplus of asset's of £lOOl 12s lid. The president (Mrs. M. C. Goodson) expressed pleasure a't the sound position of the branch and the high standard of operations attained during the past year, paying a compliment to Nurse D'ix, who had in addition to the ordinary duties involved in her position a considerable amount of work thrown on her hands by the adoption of the system of distribution of emulsion and karilac. It was matter for favourable comment that the membership was increasing, and the only note of displeasure she could voice was the usually sparse attendance at the meetings of committee. This would no doubt. l)e remedied with the infusion of new blood. The speaker regretted her early severance from the branch in consequence of leaving the district, and expressed 'sincerest wishes for its future welfare. On the motion of the p'-esiden't the reports and balance-sheet were adopted. HONORARY MEMBERS. The president expressed! the hope that a special effort would be made to increase the honorary membership, the annual subscription for which is five shillings. An annual house to house canvass with this object was sure to be attended with a fair measure of sue. (•css, and would, slie thought, finally eliminate the necessity for the almost constant appeal to the public for funds. She strongly urged that it should be a recommendation to the incoming committee. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows: Vice-presidents, Mesdames W. Bright, W. Jobson, W. W. Davey, C.

Haggctt, A. M. Winks, .1. M. 'Collins, O. J. Hawke,n, and D. J. Goodwin; committee. Mcsdames A. Thomson, A. Hunter, T. Carter, R. Henderson, A. At. Young, A. Corrigan, G. Strange, A. Bayly, B. C. Freyberg, A. K. Ryfeon, P. O. Veale, E. P. Cox, D. L. Tonics, J. Renwick, A. Gamlin, T. C. Sutherland, and 'Sister Rue; treasurer, Airs. ♦T. D. Tart; secretary, Mrs. W. Crompton; auditor, Mr. M. C. Cright'on; advisory' board, Messrs W. Bright, F. Gillanders, W. Jobson, G. Chuck, Ward and L. A. Bone; hohorarv solicitor, Air. O. Chuck. The election of branch president was deferred until the first meeting of the committee.