THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18459, 24 July 1923, Page 8

THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

GREAT VALUE OF ITS WORK. AUCKLAND. KARITANE HOME. AN . APPEAL FOR SUPPORT. An address given yesterday, by Mrs. W. H. Parkes on the work of the Plunket {Society was , something; of a departure from the ' routine of 'the Rotary Club's weekly luncheons, this being only the necond occasion upon which members have been addressed at their gatherings by a lady. ; V I: Mrs. Parkes stated that the aims and objects of the Plunket Society were less understood in Auckland than in any other part of New Zealand. One of the reasons for this wu: that the South Island had the advantage of the presence of that keen enthusiast, Dr. Truby King, while greater publicity had also been given to the work in the South than in Auckland. . It was astonishing how much ignorance still existed in the community regarding'' the society. As Dr. King aptly put it, "They know that we run 'humanised milk, that we. have brought down the • infant mortality rate, that we hold the record of the world for saving infant life, but there litre few indeed who grasp the far-reaching significance upon the whole character ana destiny of mankind of proper nutrition and tone of the body, which is the foundation _of every . form of . fitness and capability, physical, mental and moral." Dealing with the far-reaching effects of Plunket treatment upon weakling children, Mrs. Parkes said that congenital disability presented a difficult problem, the solution of which was to be found in greater care of the health of the expectant mother. Much of the loss was due to the ravages of disease over which victory was not yet insight, but such of it as was due to lack' of knowledge on the part of the mother, lack of sufficient care before and after the birth of her child, constituted causes which could be removed by the wiser instruction of expectant mothers, and better provision for saving them. Quoting Dr. King, Mrs. Parkes said: — "It cannot' bo too strongly emphasised that there is an intimate association between maternal mortality and infant mortality, and in attacking these two destructive elements in our social existence, success will save the lives of both mothers and babies." "The value of our health mission to mothers and children cannot be overestimated," continued the speaker, "and it is highly gratifying to know it has attracted so much attention in other parts of the world. , The success of the Karitane hospitals is especially commented upon in various foreign publications, and so Impressive are the • results that official recommendation has been made for the establishment of similar institutions in other countries."

Stress was laid by Mrs. Partes upon the important development of Plunket work now made possible in Auckland by the prospective establishment of a Karilane Hospital. Details were given of the progress made by the -society during the last 16 years, the speaker concluding with an appeal for sympathy and support of all members of the Rotary Club in the forthcoming campaign for funds to equip the home and continue the work in a manner commensurate with the gifts already, received.