PLUNKET SOCIETY

Opunake Times, 5 August 1947, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING LARGE GATHERING Mr. I. D. Conaglen presided over a large attendance at the annual meeting of the Opunake Blanket Society held last Thursday, delegates from the four sub-branches Auroa, Kaponga, Rahotu and Mai’iaia also being present together with representatives of the W.D.F.F., Women’s Institute and Red Cross Society. Several apologies were received from members and one from the president of the Hawcra Plunket Society. The president, Mrs. I. A. Stevenson welcomed the delegates, representatives of the local women’s organisations, and members, expressing thanks to all for the assistance rendered during the past year. A special welcome was also extended to Mrs. Hinchey, Vice-president of the Invercargill Plunket Society, who tv;as present at the meeting.

Mr. Conaglen, in presenting the balance sheet, congratulated the society and branches on the very successful year. He commented on the steady growth of the Plunket Society in this district and the encouraging decline in the infant mortalitv rate.- A credit balance of £7OB-18-6 was shown over the year’s working, with sub-branch assets as follows: Kaponga, £IOO-12-11; Manaia. £ll6-1-4; Auroa, £219-18-7; Rahotu, £5Ol-7-B—Total, £938-0-6. Special funds and other assets brought the grand total of surplus of assets over' liabilities to £1,847-14-11. . Mrs. Clarke, president of the Rahotu Sub-branch congratulaP ed the Opunake branch on the very successfid balance sheet. Mrs. T. N. Watt, president of the Opunake Red Cross Society also offered her congratulations. Mrs. Watt referred to the shortage of nurses both plunket and general and the urgent need to foster greater interest in nursing among young girls. The sub-branch reports, Nurse’s and car reports w-ere read and confirmed. Election of Officers The election of officers for Hie ensuing year resulted qs follows : Patron: Mr. A. I. Brennan. President: Mrs. I. A. Stevens on. Vice Presidents : Mesdames R. Jenkin, E. A. fcoole, W. R. Conaglen, Moir and the president and secretary of each subbranch . Hon. Secretary; Mrs. I. S. Hickey, Hon. Treasurer: Mrs; F. Kerr. Committee: Mrs. Rose, MrS. McLaughlin and Mrs. Donnelly were added, Sub-branch representatives being Mesdames Corkill and Watt (Manaia), Clarke and Lowry (Rahotu), Bailey and Brown (Auroa), and Abbott and Williams (Kaponga). Hon, Auditor: Miss M. MacReynolds. Members of Advisory Board; Messrs, I; D. Conaglen, T. B. Fouhy, and G. C. Clouston. Plunket Nurse: Miss Tredrea. Votes of thanks to the secretary, President and Committee were passed and Mrs. Jenkin presented sprays to Mrs. Hickey and Mrs. Stevenson. , Mr. Conaglen was also thanked for his help in the past. • The Mayor, Mr. G. C. Clouston also took the opportunity to congratulate the society and wished members continued success in the future.

Presentations were made to Mrs. Brown, secretary of the Auroa sub-branch, in recogni; tion of her long and faithful services, and to Plunket Aides, Nurse Wehipeihana and Nurse Tredrea for their help during the absence of the plunket nurse. Nurse Tredrea spoke of the work of the Training school for Nurses at Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin and gave an interesting talk on the work carried out at the Karitane Hospital.