PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 15, 6 September 1928, Page 3

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

VISITORS ENTERTAINED. Last Saturday morning a number cf fady delegates who had been attending the Plunket Society's Conference in Wellington, visited the Rooms of the Lower Hutt Branch in Riddiford Park. They were received by Mrs. G. A. Chapman, President of the Branch, and by the members of the committee. After some lit+le time had been spent in looking around the rooms a dainty morning tea was served in the social hall. ~ Many of the visitors were delegates from districts that had not yet established their own Plunket Rooms and who were anxious to obtain information to enable them to build up a similar organisation in their respective districts. The visitors were greatly interested in all they saw and asked many questiors. One lady remarked that she had learned more from tliis short visit than from the whole, conference. The Mayor (Mr. W. T. Strand), extended a hearty welcome to the visitors | and said his council was always pleased !to welcome visitors from other districts. He had been asked to give some information on the methods employed xn establishing the present fine building which t housed both the Plunket Society and the Dental Clinic. He said that when the Society first though of having its own building several gentlemen in the district came forward with handsome donations to the extent of £1200 and this amount had been subsidised by the Borough Council to the extent of £1500. The balance was raised by various efforts on the part of the Society. Mr Strand stressed the point that if they were to succeed they themselves must make the main effort and not look too much to councils and Governments for assistance.

*' If ygu have not got Plunket rooms in your own district, start the ball rolling yourselves and the rest must follow.'' It would be useless to build a Plunket Society or even a Cathedral 'without the main effort coming from within,'' remarked Mr, Strand, to further illustrate his point.

I Mr. Strand spoke of the valuable work being done in pre-natal treatment and by the Dental Clinic, both of ■which play so great a part in the work of child welfare, and said he believed the time would come when children would be carried on step by step from infancy to the adult stage when they come into the work again as parents. The work could only progress by efforts on the part of the ladies of the Society. The work, to suceee.l, required a finer hand than that of 'Government or council. Mrs. W. C. Brown of Cave (sub-branch Ellesmere), in thanking the Mayor on Tiehalf of the visiting delegates referrad to the great help received from the v?sit. Mrs. Buchanan of Havelock, also spoke in Appreciative terms. After leaving the Plunket Rooms the visitors were shown round the play grounds and the Riddiford Baths. Among the visitors present were: — Mrs. Fetzer, (Okakune) ; Mrs. McDowell, ' (Oainaru) ; Mrs. W. B. Cunningham (Ellesmere) ; Mrs. C. Brown (Albury) ; Mrs. Goffe (Gisborne) ; Mrs. Skurr, (Oxford) ; Mrs. Woodfield, (Oxford); Mrs. Whi^a, (Balclutha); Mrs. Barron (Foxton); -Jrs. "W. S. Harris, (Tauranga) ; Mrs. Speedy, (Dannevirke) j Mrs. Noel Buchanan; Mrs. E. P, Simpson (Hastings) ; Mr3. Ivorton, (Stunner).