THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20499, 29 August 1928, Page 8

THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S TRIBUTE,

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 28. The general conference of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (the Plunket Society was opened to-day by the Governor-General {Sir Charles Fergnsson) before an attendance of about 250 delegates from all parts of the Dominion. The conference will extend over four days. The Mayor (Mr G. A. Troup) welcomed the delegates. The Governor-General said lie yielded to no one in his interest in the society, and one would bo a very stupid, dull, and unimaginative person if one did not recognise the enormous importance of the society and the good which it had done not only for the Dominion, but also for the Empire and the world at large. The annual report showed that the infantile mortality up to March 31, 1927, was the lowest on record —namely, 38.74 per 1900. Twenty years ago, when the society was started, the rate was 88.68 per 1000. He noticed from the report of the Directorgeneral of Health that the infantile mortality rate in the first month was 25.83 out of the full percentage of 38.74. Attention was drawn to the fact that while Christchurch had ‘the highest infantile mortality rate, it had the lowest maternal mortality rate. The benefits of the Plunket Society extended not only throughout New Zealand, but also throughout the Empire and the world. One wondered whether New Zealand had yet reached the low water mark in the prevention of infantile mortality. The Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young) remarked that the present meeting was perhaps the most historic one since the foundation of the society. The great reduction in infantile mortality had been largely due to Sir Truby King and those associated with him. The organisa- 1 tion was engaged in»preventive niedicine, and he emphasised the paramount importance of that branch of medicine. The Minister mentioned that this year Parliament would vote £25,000. Sir Truby King paid a warm tribute to the work done by the late Sir John Hosking, not only in assisting at the foundation of the Plunket Society, but also up to the last years of his life. He also acknowledged the great interest which his Excellency had always taken in the activities of the society. Ho spoke of the keen interest taken by their Ma jesties the King and Queen in maternal and infant welfare. Sir Truby King strongly emphasised the importance ot specialisation in obstetrics, a branch of medicine which he held to be of the highest importance—indeed, it was of paramount importance to the human race. The annual report states that during the year ended March 31, 1928, there ■were 54.700 babies and older children under the care of the Plunket nurses throughout the Dominion. The number of visits paid to homes by Plunket nurses was 182,587, and the number of visits of mothers and children to the various Plunket rooms was 478,937. Tfiere were 16,483 new cases recorded for the year, i.nd of these new cases 13,932 were either wholly or partly breast-fed. It is gratifying to note the steady increase in the percentage of new cases which are nurtured in the natural way. During the year 1925-26 the percentage was 81./2, in 1926-27 it rose to 83.54, while for the year 1927-28 it was 84.47. The average infantile death rate for the Dominion for the year 1927 was 38.74 per 1000 living births. The rates for the urban areas of the tour main centres were: Auckland 37.67, Wellington 43.53. Christchurch 59.18, Dunedin 42.51. The average number of deaths of infants under one month of age during the year 1927 for Ihc Dominion was 25.83 per 1000 live births. The figures tVrnished by the Government Statistician show that the average maternal mortality in New Zealand for the year ended December 31, 1927, was 4.91 per 1000 births. The maternal mortality per 1000 births lor the urban areas of each of the four main centres was: Auckland 7.87, Wellington 4.27, Christchurch 1.40, Dunedin 5.22. It was considered that as facilities for special classes were provided in Dunedin, a remit -lat a refresher course fov Pluuket muses should include a special course on tlie feeding and care of the pre-school child was not necessary. Sir Turby King, in reply to a remit, said that Karilac would be put on the general market in time, but not yet. lie asked the delegates to be patient. The conference was averse to giving a few delegates the right to vote as the equivalent of the full voting strength ot a province. It was thought to permit this would militate against the attendance of branch members. Great good was done through these meetings.