PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 29 April 1922, Page 7

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The ninth annual general meeting of the Hawera branch of the Royal Society for the Health of "Women and Children was held in the Borough Council Chambers last night. Mr EDixon, M.P., presided over the meeting. There were fewer people present than at former meetings-, but various other meetings were held on the same evening. Mr Dixon welcomed four members of the Eltham- branch. The annual report, the nurse's report, and the balance-sheet, together with reports of Eltham and Patea branches, were read. The report states: The Hawera branch of the Royal Society for the Health of Women and Children, in presenting the ninth annual report, has to record another year or steady work and progress. Regular meetings of the committee have been held throughout the year. Nurse Dix has carried on Plunket work in Hawera, Eltham, and Patea. From her report yon will see the number of cases she has attended, and much praise is due to" her for her constant and careful attention to her duties. The society had hoped to form a branch at Manaia, but so far has been unable to <fo so*. The committee arranged a rest room at the Winter Show. Nurse Dix was in attendance to answer enquiries, and gave practical demonstrations, and a few tired mothers were able to find a resting place for a while. The running expenses and upkeep of the car have been heavy. Eltham and Patea have- contributed a share of the expenses. The^ committee hopes that in the near future the Government may give' a grant towards car expenses in lieu of train expenses, which formerly were reimbursed. The committee wish to thank Mr Kemp, Mr Jobson, Mr Kfelvih, and Mr Rowson for their help towards repairs to the car. On Saturday, October 29, 1921, a street shop was held to help our funds. On February 15, 1922, the annual fete was held in conjunction with the Fire Brigade Demonstration.' Mr P. V. Graves acted! as organising secretary, and it was greatly due to his capable work that the' society was able to pay into the- bank the sum of £116 lis 9d. At the beginning of August the owner of the rooms the society was leasing in Union street allowed us to give them up, and tne* work is now carried on in more central and convenient rooms in High street. Expect- : ant and nursing mothers find tiie pTivacy and comfort provided a great boon. On September 7, Miss Pattrick, Director of Plunket Nursing, visited Hawera. She gave a most interesting address to mothers, and also gave instructive assistance to Nurse Dix. The ' committee feels this is the time and j

place in which to urge present subscribers, who are able to do so, to in- \ crease their subscriptions, and to try J and induce others to help along the j work of the society by becoming mem'hers. This year the membership is less than 120. Our grateful thanks are due to our advisory board and our honorary solicitor, Mr F. C. Spratt, for much valuable help and advice; to all who have wiliinglv helped and g_ven dona- | tions a-. * m .^j nnc: hoJd;"and to the I ! press for its hearty support ana en-; couragement. The following is the nurse's annual report for the year ending March 31, 1922: Cases attended during the year— Hawera 588, Eltham 220, Patea 74; total 882. Cases retained on books—- ; Hawera 451, Eltham 161, Patea ' 51; j total 663. New cases for the year— ; Hawera 308, Eltham 98, Patea 47; total 453. Breast-fed babies under nine months 93, babies supplemented with humanised milk and others artificially fed 67, advice to expectant mothers 119; total 279. Mothers and babies to Plunket Rooms—Hawera * 4789, Eltham 1447, Patea 1043; total 7279. Nurse's visits to homes—Hawera 3183, Eltham 600, Patea 290; total 4073. Work in all districts has progressed steadily during the year. There is an increasing demand for the New Zealand emulsion, now used extensively '■ in preparing humanised milk, and in general babies requiring artificial food thrive very well on the mixture. The ' car has been of great assistance, and in addition to Patea and Eltham cases have been visited on the way between ; Hawera and those districts which other- ; wise could not- have been reached. Mrs Spence moved, and Mrs Hooker seconded, the receiving and adoption of the reports and balance-sheet. Mr Dixon congratulated the society on the excellent year. He thought it splendid that so many ladies took ah interest in-the Plunket training. Even during his journeys in the back-blocks he heard praise of the society's work, and he therefore hoged that the members would not slacken in the good work, but try to get others to take an interest. j

Several members spoke regarding the necessity for a greater membership. It was the general opinion that by canvassing and putting forward the aims and the good work being done it would be easy to enrol more members. The report and balance-sheet were then passed. ( A letter was read from Miss Pattrick, Director of Plunket Nursing, suggesting, as this district is extensive and inclined to be rather too much work for one Plunket nurse, that perhaps a more equal division of labour might he arranged, by Eltham being worked from the Stratford branch. , The Eltham members did not wish that any change should Joe made, for they felt that it was owing to the careful attention of Nurse Dix to the work that Eltham branch had been so prosperous. Mr F. C. Spratt suggested that if a second nurse was appointed here to learn the methods of Nurse Dix that ultimately it might be possible to form Eltham into a head district, working out towards Kaponga. ■ Mrs Spence said that the funds for an extra nurse would be the difficulty. | Already the committee worked very hard to raise sufficient money to keep going. Nurse Dix said, that with the use of the car she was less physically fatigued than before, and she felt that at least for another year Eltham should be allowed to remain a branch of the Hawera Society. The suggestions made will be forwarded to Miss Pattrick by the committee. It was decided that a letter should be sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking that notice of all births, | together with addresses of parents, i slibuld be sent monthly to Hawera i Plunket Society by the Registrar of i Births. j The election of officers then took ! place, the following being the vosult: Patron, Lady Plunket; hon. president, Mrs. Bruce Joll; vice-presidents, Mesdames Foyster, Spence and Dowling; ! hon. scretary, Mrs N. L. King; hon. : treasurer, Miss K. Hewitt; hon. aurli- ! tor, Mr Burdekin; advisory boarfl, j Messrs Bright, Gillanders, and F. C. j Spratt; hon. solicitor, Mr F. ft. Spratt-; ' i committee, Mesdames Godfrey. Tvcoj bane, Bright, Pease, A. Sellar, .Avi.old Thomson, Pratt, C. Hawken, Hooker,

Rawson; Henderson, Jobsoi\j M:. J..Goodson, Graves, llaggett, Franklin,. Winks,, Collins, Burdekin. I Miss- Pa-trick-- notified, the Society i that Dr. Truby King* would: be visiting; | Hawera about June or July. The- Eltham branch hoped that Dr. King.would be able to lecture in-Eltham.. ' A hearty vote of thanks was. givento Nurse Dix for her capable work throughout the year. Votes of thanKS were also given to-the-retiring.officers— Mrs Foyster (president), Mrs Dowling. (Hon. secretary), Miss R. Blake (hon. treasurer), Mr C. Suisted (hon.. auditor) —to the Press and to Mr E..Dixon* i for presiding at the meeting.