THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19779, 28 October 1927, Page 7

THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

AUCKLAND SUB-BRANCHES^ " '>■ : •" \ ' FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES, The first annual- conference of representatives from the sub-branches of. the Auckland branch of the Plunket Society was commenced yesterday afternoon at til© society's headquarters in Synaonds Street. The president, Mrs. Parkes, on behalf of the committee, extended a hearty welcome to the delegates. In speaking of the Plunket Society's aims and work, Mrs. Parkes said she could do no better than quote the words of Sir Truby King which were contained in a circular that had been distributed to the sub-branches. He said he wanted to impress on every branch the fact that the society was not an arbitrary organisation run by a central directing bureau. It was a federation of between 50 and ICO centres, placed on the Sam® footing and with equal responsibilities, privileges and powers, but all bound together in the common tie of a mutual work. The members had solemnly undertaken to do their very best for home-life and for mothers and children within the range of their spheres of influence and opportunity. ? Each branch should be a living entity, doing its best to improve health and to promote interest in and understanding of what was needed to ensure a strong, capable, virile race, and thus prevent disease and failure, physical, moral and niental. It was the duty of everyone who accepted a position pu the committee to become conversant with the chief functions of the society they represented, and absolute loyalty to the president and committee was necessary if the aims of the society were to be achieved. Sharing Cost of Nurses. One of the objects of the conference was to impress upon the committee members of suh-branches their responsibilities to the central branch,, chiefly in respect, to finance. It was impossible to meet the cost of supplying nurses to subbranches and at the same time maintain an efficient administration at headquarters. To relieve the financial strain, therefore," it had been decided at the last general conference, ho!j in Wellington, that all sub-branches should share in the responsibility of maintaining the nurses to the following extent:—Attendance of nurse for one half-day a week, a year; for one whole day a week, £3O, ana for two days a week, £6O. In referring to the new headquarters obtained by the society in Symonds Street, Mrs. Parkes said it had been necessary to raise a mortgage of £6450. With the doaa- * tion of £2OOO from the Auckland Savings Bank and the Lyceum Clnb's donation of £2OO, together with other smaller contributions, the debt had been reduced to £2OOO and the interest on that was no more than was previously paid in rent for more unsuitable quarters. If the sub-branches did their duty and all the members took an active interest in the work of the society, then the headquarters' difficulties would be considerably solved. Review of Society's Work. Miss E. L. Partridge, secretary, read, her report, which contained a brief outline of the history of the society. This vear the number of visits of mothers and babies to the various offices was 78,891, and 2223 new baby cases were-dealt with." A total of 13,966 visits was paid to homes by the nurses, and 387 letters of advice were sent to country mothers. The society's highest aim was not merely to bring about a reduction in the infant death rate by healing sick babies,, but, by practical teaching, to prevent illness so that children might be given' a chance to grow up healthy and fit to take their place in the world. The' possession of a Karitane Hospital and Mothercraft Home, and the new headquarters for the district work, with its fine" accommodation, was the canse of considerable satisfaction to the society. There was; a chain of 17 sub-centres stretching from. Otahuhn to Helensville and a band of. 13 district Plunket nurses was employed. Voluntary Donation System.

The question why no charge was uade for the nurses' services conld be qitbkly dismissed The branches that bad tried that method of raising funds bad soon _ returned to the voluntary donation system, as the fees charged had of necessity to be small and so the generous voluntary donations the committees had bean in the habifcof receiving had ceased. It was generally agreed, therefore, that the voluntary donation system was preferable to the other. Reports from the various sub-branches - were submitted as follows:—Avondale, Mrs. Rohson ; Glen Eden, Mrs. Waldron; Kohimarama. Mrs F C Webster; New Lynq. Mrs. Barlow; Onshnnga, Miss M. Robb; Otahuhu. Mrs. A. -Murdock; Pon~ sonby. Mrs J. Hodgson; St Heliers Bay», Miss Statham. •

Afternoon tea was served on the batcony, Miss Partridge acting as hostess.