The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1914. A BENEFICENT SOCIETY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 1 June 1914, Page 4

The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1914. A BENEFICENT SOCIETY.

The Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children is, in a sense, fortunate in having its headquarters in Dunedin, for, in consequence of this circumstance, it has since its foundation, seven years ago, been immediately under the stimulating influence of its., originator, Dr. Truby King. It is principally due to this fact that it has been able to do so much in New Zealand, and has won for its work a world-wide recognition and reputation. The explanation of this is that Dr. Truby King is an enthusiastic humanist and a medical man, who not only hit upon the thing primarily indispensable to the health of the whole community—the health of mothers and children—but means for ensuring it, while he also happens to possess the talent for the organisation and persistency necessary for success in such a. matter. The result is the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children, with its system of Plunket nurses, and the further result that of everylooo babies born in New Zealand, only 51 die in the first year of life. In accounting for this to the people of Australia lately, Dr. Barrett", of Melbourne, who has studied the facts in this Dominion, ascribes it all to "special and practical education." In writing to the Melbourne Argus, Dr. Barrett said: "In 1907 the Society for the Health of Women and Children was founded by Dr. Truby King. Its object was the care of the infant before birth, and during the period of infancy—in other words, practical eugenics. It was really aai attempt to rear; a strong and healthy race by constructive, and not by restrictive, means. The bbjject was not primarily to eliminate the unfit, but to prevent their production fey aidSng in the full

development of the healthy. Lord and Lady Plunket immediately grasped the significance of the scheme, and the ' Governor issued an appeal to the citizens of New Zealand to help, 'for the sake of women and children, for the advancement of the Dominion, and for the honor of the Empire.' .Nrjx.ses were trained in the best methods <of feeding and of the car© of infants, -and were then provided for all classes, free of any charge. The nurses are called 'Plunket Nurses,' and now numbor 27. They are distributed throughout New Zealand. They have nothing to do with the treatment of disease, which is at once referred to medical men. Their .business is entirely educational. They teach mothers to weigh babies before and after feeding, to plot the growth in graphs,, to obtain analyses of milk, and to ensure cleanliness. They estimate the requirements of the baby in calories, and see that the requisite quantity of food is supplied. Above all, in season and out of season, they urge all mothers to nurse their children." Though many New Zealanders are well enough aware of these facts, and sympathise with the work and help it on, yet too many care nothing for such knowledge, and see no reason why they should ixelj* eVen so great a cause as the promotion of the health of tlie mothers and children of the countryl. Perhaps the recognition given to the work by enlightened public men and eminent physicians, not only in Australia, but in Britain, Europe and America, will induce those1 who have been hitherto indifferent amongst ourselves to take an intelligent interest in the work, and to help it on henceforth with sympathy and practical assistance. A very convenient opportunity will shortly be presented in this connection, for it has been decided to make an effort to secure £10,000 as an endowment fund, with special regard to the financial strength of the Dunedin branch; but as this branch is the headquarters of the Society, its gain is, in effect, a gain tc» the whole scheme. Anyway, there is still room and ,need in many parts of the Dominion for Plunket nurses, and those who help to provide for these by private subscriptions not only show their humanity and enlightened public spirit, but are liberally seconded in their efforts by the Government, which subsidises every pound subscribed to the extent of £1 4s. With such Encouragement, and in view of all the facts, it is probable that ere long every township and district in the Dominion will have its Plunket nurse. It will be a good thing for mothers and their babies when this is ,so, and, through them, for the whole country. There is an undoubted opportunity for the extension of the Plunket nurse system to the backblocks, where it is next to impossible to obtain the services of medical men. The Health Department, the Farmers' Union, and the Society for th& Promotion of the Health of Women and Children should, it would seem, be able to co-operate in this matter to very good purpose. To use the old expressive phrase, the work is one of necessity and mercy.