PLUNKET SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16120, 8 July 1914, Page 7

PLUNKET SOCIETY

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON.

(Pirn United Pmiss Association.)" WELLINGTON, July 7. The second annual conference of the • Plunket Society wae opened in the Town Hail this afternoon, Mrs Algar Williams (Wellington) presiding. The Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes (Minister of Public Health), Messrs T. K. Sidey, R, Scott, Vernon Heed, T. Buxton, and A. Harrk, M.P.'6, were among the visitors. The Hon. Mr Rhodes said he had ahrays taken a keen interest in the society, and had watched its growth from small'beginnings in a private house to its preeeiit stage, when from the Karitane Home it sent out nurses to all parts of the dominion. He referred to the interest shown bv other countries in New Zealand's efforts to minimise infantile mortality. A Government would indeed be failing in ita, duty that did not do what it couldj to; rectify one of the greatest dangers .of , modern times and help those agendesi public or private, that weTe working in the interests of the health and happiness of the community, said the Minister. " I think that the Government can claim to be quite in accord with the ideak.of your society, and that it has ever been ready to give it substantial support, and I take this opportunity to mention my regret at • the impression existing among eome of your members that my departmerlt is in any way antagonistic to yow work. I have under consideration a scheme that may bring about a more speedy payment of the subsidies than is possible under the pre- ' sent system, which, on account of occasional delays, is vexatious alike to the society, the boards, and the department. I am confident that if any misunderstandings have arisen between your society and the department they are of a nature that con be easily adjusted, and that your society will he able to co-operate with the department in the great work yon have undertaken."

Br Tnvby King responded, and S tribute to the efforts of the Wellington branch of the society that had brought about the (pnnual conference. If it were the destiny of New Zealand to be the nursery of the British race in the Pacific, he said, nothing better could be done to attain this end than to' carry on the good work of the Plunket Society.

Dγ Valintine (Inspector-general of Hospit.als) also spoke. 'He wished the society every snccess in ?ts conference business. The session of the conference will open to-morrow.