PLUNKET SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 54

PLUNKET SOCIETY

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 7. The second annual conference of the Plunket Society was 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 Reed, T. Buxton, and A. Harris, M.P.’s, were among the visitors. The Hon. Mr Rhodes said he had always taken a keen interest in the society, and had watched its growth from small beginnings in a private house to its present stage, when from the Karitane Home it sent out nurses to all parts of the dominion. He referred to the interest shown by other countries in New Zealand’s efforts to minimise infantile mortality. A Government would indeed be failing in its duty that did not do what it could to rectify one of the greatest dangers _of modern times -and help those agencies, public or private, that were 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 ideals 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 some of your members that my department is in any way antagonistic to your work. I have under consideration a scheme that may bring about a more speedy payment of the subsidies than is possible under the present 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 bo easily adjusted, and that your society will be able to co-operate with the department in the great work you have undertaken.”

Dr Truby King responded., and paid a tribute to’the efforts of the Wellington branch of the society that had brought about the annual 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. Dr Valintine ( Insnector-general of Hospitals) also spoke. He wished the society every success in its conference business. The session of the conference will open to-morrow. July 8. Tho annual conference of the Blanket Society was continued in tho Town Hall to-day, Mrs Algar Williams presiding. Dr Valintine (Chief Health Officer) was also present.

The morning business, token in commit* toe, was principally occupied with the digoussion of the relationship of the society to J the Stote, the general feeling being that the a functions of the society’s nurses were dif- it foront from those of district nurses, their S work being more of an educational nature. % i r n, by King spoke at considerable || length. Later Dr Valintine gave the society t an assurance that the position as between -J----the society and the department should remain unaltered until next annual conferKo also stated) that in future the ii Department would communicate with the Plunket Society Centres only, and not with its branches. The following remit from Wanganui was on niotion of Miss Campbell: that nurses must pay their own training fee at Kantone-Harns Hospital, and if they hold a position for two years, the -training fee will be refunded to them at the end of that time.” m . . July 9. Ihe third days sitting of the Plunket Society Conference, held to-day, resolved: ‘ That Dr Truhy King and Mrs King should interview the Hon. R. H. Rhodes with reference to the relations of the society with the Health Department. That branches contribute £1 annually towards the cost of training each nurse employed by the branches, and should also contribute towards the cost of a hygiene column in the newspapers. lhat in future any nurse appointed an assistant Plunket nurse must have a proper c °urse of training at Kantane Hospital. ihat as Plunket nurses now received a salary of £l5O per annum, it is unnecessary that their uniforms should be paid for out of the branch' funds. That the dress worn by the Wellington nurses be approved as the most suitable for the whole dominion.

That the Government be asked to subscribe towards the cost of training an extra nurse at Karitano Hospital for relieving purposes. A Karitane nurse is to be allowed to act as assistant to Plunket nurses, provided she lias the recommendation of the Central Council and the approval of thd Health Department, at a salary of £2 per week and travelling expenses (paid by the branch employing her).” After the discussion the following resolution was passed:—“ The delegates at the conference of the Society for the Health of Women and Children® are strongly of opinion that the, condition of the milk supply should be brought under the notice of the Government with a view to its improvement.” This resolution is to bo brought, under the notice of the Prime Minister by a deputation which is to wait on Mr Massey to-morrow. A considerable amount of routine business was transacted, and the, conference adjourned.