PRIME MINISTER’S TRIBUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 10 February 1938, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER’S TRIBUTE

WORK OF LATE SIR TRUBY KING SERVICE FOR NATION AND HUMANITY •GREATEST FRIEND OF LITTLE CHILDREN’ [By Telegraph—Press Association] WELLINGTON. This Day. “I deeply regret to learn of the death of Sir Trubv King.” said the Prime Minj ister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, to- ; day. “His passing in the fullness of j almost eighty years removes a world figure from New Zealand life and progress. Not only has Sir Truby King's ! fame gone far beyond the boundaries ; of his own country, but his most vital j work has been taken up in many lands j and extends steadily wherever people realise the value of wise motherhood ard child welfare. If it were necessary to give the life story of Sir Truby King in a phrase one need only say that he was the greaest friend of little children. It can be claimed for him that in this country alone his knowledge and his resourceful enthusiasm for a vital cause have been largely responsible for saving the lives of 1000 infants every year. It is not easy to find a greater service for a nation and for humanity anywhere. He was one ct the most distinguished New Zca.anders, and gave all he knew to the great work that dominated the greater part of his active life.

“It >'s not too much to say that he was one of the most outstanding figures in a sphere of humanitarian progress which has characterised the development of state activity in New Zealand,” continued Mr Savage. “Ever since the foundation of the Society for the Health of Mothers and Children in Dunedin some thirty years ago the name of Sir Truby King has been a household word. “To-day that original society is a splendid organisation in New Zealand and has counterparts in many countries, while the written works of Sir Truby King on mothercraft and infant welfare have been translated into many foreign languages. Like many other reformers Sir Truby King did not have an easy task in the beginning, but now all that he advocated is almost a routine part of maternal and infant welfare. with the State supporting the splendid work as an essential activity in social welfare. This country owes a great debt of gratitude to this zealous humanitarian, to whom there can be no finer memorial than the continuation and extension of his life’s work."

Sir Truby King is survived by an adopted daughter. Miss Mary King, who is at present in Adelaide where she is engaged in broadcasting work on be half of the Australian Mothercraft Society. A nephew is Dr. E. L. MarchanU Lower Hutt.

As a mark of respect to the memory of the founder of the Plunket Society, the late Sir Truby King, the Plunket Rooms will be closed on Saturday morning: the Rest Room will observe its usual hour of closing.