HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 70

HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

MEETING OF THE SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children was held in the Town Hall on the- 14th inst. Mrs Hosking.. was in the chair, and the following were, present: Mesdames Nesbit, Ross, Theomin, Gallaway, Allan, Edlmond, Donald, King, Cohen, Denniston, Misses Holford, Dow, and Besviek, Dr King, and the secretary. Apologies were received from Sister Ernestine and Mrs Moore.

Correspondence was read and dealt with. The resignation of Adjutant Duff was received with regret. The Matron of the Karitane Home reported that eight infants had been admitted, five discharged, and 14 remained. Nurse Donald will complete the hospital portion of her training on September 4. She will then go into training at the Taievi and Peninsula Factory, and later on will take up district work. A nurse from Christchurch will take her place on the staff. This still leaves a vacancy for a Punket nurse.

It was reported that the weekly demonstration had not been so well attended this month, owing to unfavourable weather conditions.

Miss O'Shea, who is in temporary charge of the work of the society in connection with the Taieri and Peninsula Factory, reported as follows: — Visits to babies, 111; new oases during month, 16. Four of the babies are being partially nursed by their mothers, and only a small quantity of humanised milk is used in these cases.

The committee made the following alterations in salaries paid: Miss O'Shea to receive at the rate of £78 per year while in charge oi the Taieri and Peninsula work ; Mrs Henderson to receive at the rate of £125 per year for six -months as a Dunedin Plunket nurse, on the completion, of her training at the- Karitane Home. It was resolved tha^ the -salary of the matron of tfhe home be raised from £90 to £100 per year. In regard to the question of the salary of Plunket nurses, attention was drawn, to the fact that there appeared to bo some misconception on the part of nurses as to the salaries they would be likely to receive. The rule wae laid down that for Plunket nurses the salary is not to be less than £100 per year, with no limitation in the other direction, the matter being one for arrangement by the local branch. Thus, Nurse Donald, who is at present in training at tho Karitan© Home, will receive as Plunket nurse at Napier £100 per annum, in addition to board and residenoe. It waa decided by the committee that nurses holding a maternity hospital qualification might go to the Karitane Home for a training extending over not less than three months. If they wish for a certificate fx-om the society they must pass a,n examination. The training would not qualify them as a Plunket nurse — they would only be qualified to assist suoh nurse 3. The three months training necessary to complete their qualification as a Plunket nurse could be tak.cn at any later period. A letter was received from Mrs Carew siating that she had visited the Ashfield Horn© for babies at Sydney with tha secretary, and she was rruch impressed with the organisation, and had made many notes for future use. The writer mentioned that the president of 'the National Council of Women was very much interested in the society's work, and wished her to attend a meeting to explain the working of the society and also demonstrate the pre-p&i-ing of humanised milk.

The following donations were received : — Anonymous, £2: Dr Waddell. Dr E. Williams.. Miss Beswiok. £1 la; Friend. 4s 6d; Friend, 2s; Mrs J. A. Johnston, vegetables and jam ; Westporfc Coal Company, coal ; Dr King, app\es; Me?dames Allan, Lee," Aikman, Arundel, Anseombe, Misses Glasgow, Watt;. Millar, Mr Bull, clothing ; N>w Zealand Hardware, ironing stove: Paterson and Ba.rr, irons ; Mrs J. A. Johnston, tea; Mrs Denniston, vegetables, jam, and

clothing; Mrs Milne, preserves and jam; .Mrs Moore and Mr Edwards, boxes. Arrangements are being made for the publication of " Our Babies " columns in newspapers throughout the Dominion. Answers to correspondents will be sent as usual in the form of letters direct to the writers.