SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Mt Benger Mail, 28 May 1919, Page 3

SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

A conference of the Otago Central Branch of the above Society was held in Alexandra on May 22, 1919, when there were present delegates from the three cntres —Cromwell, Alexandra and Roxburgh. Mrs W. D. Jolly, president of the Crsmwell branch, was voted to the chair. An apology from absence from the Roxburgh branch president, Mrs John Bennetts, was received. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. We are very pleased to be able to present such a favourable report of our Plunket work in Otago Central. In nurse's memo to us we find that she visimparting information to the mothers its 240 babies every month, and to do this her time must be fully occupied re the feeding of their infants. The Otago Central district is a very large one and the nurse has to travel many miles, and use different means of transit to reach the different homes.

The committees appreciate very much the work that the nurse has accomplished. At this stage I would ask every woman associated with the Piunkett work to be loyal to the aims and objects of the Society and thus assist the Nurse to the best of her ability.* There are two things that I w T ish to emphasise: first, Piunkett work is a health mission, the nurses being trained and sent out from Karatane to teach mothers how, through proper feeding, to rear healthy babies and practically Piunkett work stands for breast feeding, humanised milk being used only eliminate sickness. ; secondly, the when the mother is unfit to nurse the baby. We called a special meeting in ikpteniber in connection with the Hon. Russell's proposal to reduce Government subsidy towards Plunket work, advising Mr fckott, M.P., of his attitude. Mr Scott passed through Roxburgh shortly afterwards when a deputation from our society waited upon him explaining the position. He gave us a very attentive hearing, assuring us of his support. We were pleased to learn later that our subsidy would remain as formerly. Since January Mrs Bain has ably filled the position of President to the satisfaction of all. In concluding I would like to thank the women on the different committees, the Advisory Board, Miss Burton who kindly audited our Balance-sheet, and especially our secretary, Mrs Weaver, for the able manner in which she has carried out her duties. lam sure that the Otago Central Plunket Society feel deeply indebted to her aud any others wro have assisted to make our society the success that it is.

I would liko to suggest after reading the Duuedin Annual report-that we donate £5 fis towards the Central Council to assist mem in meeting the heavy expenditure they have had this year.

£362 1 7 After the President and secretary's reports were read and adopted, it was resolved to purchase a light bicycle for the Cromwell district so that Nurse Graham will not need to take the bicycle from Alexandra to Cromwell each trnie she visits there and that it be left in the hands of the Cromwell branch to purchase bicycle. It was resolved that £5 5s be donated to the Central Council towards the heavy expenses they have in carrying on their work. „ A sum of £5 5s was also donated towards the upkeep of the Karitane Harris Hospital. 'The secretary was instructed to write a lette of thanks and appeciation to Nurse Graham for the able and tactful way she has gone about her work and for her willingness at all times to help an anxious mother or a sick baby. The Otago Central branch realise that the district is far too large for one nurse,, and is faced in the near future with the problem of raising sufficient funds to employ two nurses or cutting the district up into two branches.

A vote of sympathy to Mrs Bennetts in her illness and a vote of thanks for the good work she has done as president, also a vote of thanks to tre secretary.

That being all the business, the meeting closed with a vote of.thanks to the visiting delegates for attending the conference, and to Mrs Jolly for presiding. A special vote of thanks to the Alexandra ladies for so kindly providing afternoon tea was passed, also a vote of thanks to Mrs Wallace for her untiring energy and to all those who in any way assist ou society. V

BALANCE-SHEET Receipts. Balance on April 1, 1918 £136 16 2 Alexandra 33 13 9 Roxburgh 33 10 6 Cromwell 28 13 4 Government Subsidy .... 100 0 0 Refund Railway Fares 26 11 11,1 Sale of Books 2 15 11 ] £362 1 7 Expenditure. Nurse's Salary £165 0 0 Nurse's Travelling Exs. 25 11 1 Telephone 14 Printing, Stationery, Postage, Advertising, etc. 6 14 11 Bank Charges, Cheque Book 19 0 Purchase of Books ,.t... •3 19 10 Nurse's Accident Insurance 1 0 0! Other Expenditure 14 o j Cash in hand and in Bank 158 8 3