PLUNKET SOCIETY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 June 1945, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY

NELSON ANNUAL MEETING ADDRESS BY DR. W. D. S. JOHNSTON The thirty-second annual meeting of the Nelson branch of the Plunket Society was held in the Cathedral Sunday School yesterday afternoon, there being a good attendance of members including representatives from the country sub-branches. The chairman of the Waimea County Council, Mr J. Colder, took the chair and congratulated the society on an excellent year’s work and wished it continued success for the future.

The speaker was Dr. W. D. S.! Johnston whose talk on the incidence: of still-births and neo-natal mortality j was listened to with interest. The speaker showed the great advances which had been achieved in recent years in lowering the infant mortality rate. New Zealand, apart from it» advantages of having a better standard of living and very few industrial slum areas, had a more general development of preventative measures. It had had ante-natal clinics established for more than twenty years; had educated maternity cases to go into hospitals where there was a required standard; many of these hospitals had wards for premature babies, and, in addition, there were the Karitane Homes. Its mothercraft work, and care of infant feeding, which were now under the care of the Plunket Society, had lowered the infant death rate to that of the lowest in the world. In enumerating further steps which might be taken for the reduction in the number, of still-b*iths and neonatal deaths, Dr. Johnston strongly advocated, as part of the social and economic care of the pregnant woman, an organised scheme to ensure adequate domestic help. On the motion of Lady Rigg, the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. ANNUAL REPORT The president, Miss M. E. Nevin, in her annual report,, stated inter alia: .. “The General Domini on Conference, was attended by three delegates from th Nelson branch. The scope and importance of the remits, covering extension of maternity hospitals, housing, pure milk supply, etc., was evidence that the Society in addition to its particular interest in the welfare of the mother and child, is concerned with all social and economic matters pertaining to family life. “Increased membership consequent upon growing interest has again rendered any other effort than our house-to-house collection unnecesssary. It is gratifying t<f feel that this firmly established method of raising funds is recognised by the public as our main source o_f income, and is responded to accordingly. On the advice of the Advisory Board the sum of £4OO was invested in the Victory Loan. A donation of £2. 2s from the Trained Nurses’ Association was gratefully acknowledged. A donation from the Happiness Club took the form of a glass-fronted bookcase for our slowly growing library. This organisation has been most generous to us, and we had an opportunity of thanking them publicly on the occasion of their birthday party'which was attended by members of the committee. STAFF CHANGES “This year has been marked by greater changes in the nursing staff than ever before. Miss H. I. Beatson, Charge Nurse, who had been with the branch for six years, severed her connection with the Society to take* the position of District nurse undel£ the Nelson Hospital Board, and K. M. Robinson, after three years’ service, resigned to be married. Both resignations were received with keen regret, for under their capable direction Plunket work in Nelson maintained its traditional high standard and their qualities of tact and helpfulness won the affectionate esteem of the mothers, both in town and country. Owing to the shortage of nurses these vacancies could not be filled immediately, which necessitated some curtailment of the work, and on two occasions the rooms were closed for short periods. It is gratifying to report that an appeal for co-operation met with a ready response from the mothers. During the last six months we have had a succession of relieving nurses, whom we thank most heartily. As usual Mrs Lumsden. and Miss D. Knapp came to our aid whenever possible. Miss M. G. Smith, of Wellington was with us for four weeks, and Miss S. Vernon, who came to us early in December, is still with the branch pending the permanent appointment of a second ’nurse. Miss I. E. Hunt, who was Charge nurse in Nelson at the beginning of the war is welcomed back as Miss Beatson’s successor. All sub-branches and sub-com-mittees were visited for their annual meetings and congratulated upon their progressive reports. The knowledge that the country work is being fostered so ably by energetic committees is a great help to the central branch”. A vote of thanks to the nurses was carried with acclamation. Miss Nevin spoke of the expansioh of the activities of the Nelson branch which had in recent years been restricted due to war conditions. The branch’s chief requirement was a third nurse, said Miss Nevin, and this would in turn entail an extension of buildings and facilities. With this in view the society was harbouring its resources until the long hoped for plans could be put into operation. The meeting stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mrs J. N. Buchanan, patroness and first president of the Nelson branch, and of the late Mrs SelbyBennetts, secretary of the Dovedale sub-branch since its inception in 1921. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: . . President, Miss Nevin; Vice-presidents, Lady Rigg, Mesdames F. A. Bett, R. H. Davies, K. S. Farmer, I. Field, J. A. Harley. J.E. Hudson, F. V. Knapp, W. Lock, E. R. Neale, J. R. Wallace and Miss Hunter-Brown.; General Committee Lady Scott, Mesdames H.F. Allen, H. Atkinson, H. C. Brodie, W. Bullivant. C. Cannington, R.’ A. i Craighead, H. H. Dawson, G. F. Dodd, R. S. Duncan, R. H. Goodman, R. Grace, F. H. Grear, A. R. Griffin. G. Gould, R. Hunt, C. Kinzett. W. Mayston, N. Pownall N. S. Tankersley, A. Walker, Keith Walker an<4 Miss Rhodes; Associate committee Lady Easterfield, Mesdames A. H. Bisley, A. Campbell-Smith, M. Carmichael, C. N. Chamberlain, C. A. Cumming, F. J. Earle, H. Hurst. J. P. S. Jamieson J. Johnston, N. V. Jones, W. Kirby, S. A. Luccas. L. E. Scrimgeour. H. V. Searle, S. M. Wiggins, Misses Blackett and Knapp; Country representavties, Mesdames Haycock (Richmond), Burnett (Dovedale) Robertson (Murchison) H. J. Win (Wakefield), Business Advisory Board, Messrs C. M. Collins, R. bagger A. Gould, J. A. Harley, H. Hurst, H. V. Searle, J. N. Smith: Medical Advisory Board, Drs. Bett, Jamieson. , Hudson, Low and Williams; Hon. j

Solictir, Mr C. R. Fell: Auditor, Mr. H. C. Fletcher; Hon sec. Mrs H. J. Robertson; hon. treasurer, Mr. F. H. Great*.