THE PLUNKET SYSTEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23078, 1 July 1938, Page 10

THE PLUNKET SYSTEM

If criticism were always met in the spirit shown yesterday by the Auckland branch of tho Plunket Society, there would be more chance of gaining benefit from it. The circumstances are that the Plunket method of infant feeding—an important part of the regime, though by no means the whole of it —has been publicly questioned by a medical authority of high standing. The society as a whole has refused to be stampeded into hasty words or action. Various replies have been made in different centres, but the general policy of the whole body is that the question particularly under fire is to be the subject of careful and expert inquiry. When that has been completed, no doubt there will be a detailed answer to the points raised, medical authority meeting medical authority. Meantime the branches, the bodies actually dealing with infants and mothers, will continue the work they have been doing for many years, and, as yesterday's meeting showed, will continue undismayed. As was suggested by speakers, there is very good reason for deciding to do this. It was pointed out that the society had been at work for more than 30 years, and in that period the New Zealand mortality rate for infants under one year of age had fallen to the lowest in the world. It is fair to conclude that there is more than coincidence in these circumstances, that, in fact, the society has played a great part in producing a result of which this country is justifiably proud. Even so, no human institution is ever 100 per cent perfect. It is likely to come nearest to such a pinnacle if it accepts criticism as a challenge to self-examination with a view to removing flaws and conquering weaknesses. The society is doing this. New Zealand as a whole needs more of this spirit when the voice of the critic is heard.