A GENEROUS OFFER

Otago Witness, Issue 3475, 19 October 1920, Page 51

A GENEROUS OFFER

RECOGNITION OF PLUNKET SOCIETY'S WORK.

The following letter from Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P. for Temuka, was read at tho meeting of the Plunket Society yesterday morning:—"Beginning" from 'midDecember next, I purpose paying to the Plunket Society's secretary at each of the sub-centres (Temuka, Geraldine, Fairlie, Pleasant Point, and Mayflsld) £lO every three months, conditional on each of these centres contributing 25 per cent, of their revenue towards the upkeep and running expenses of the, society's car or cars running between Timaru and Mayfield, back to Fairlie. Of course, I take it that each of those centres keeps a proper system of books, properly audited. I am led to take this step from what I hear and have seen of the eplend'id work of the society throughout the country. If the society had been started 30 years sooner New Zealanders to-day would bear a more enviable reputation for physioal fitness, for it is undoubtedly the unnatural way of rearing infants, with the crass ignorance of eo many of those responsible for rearing them, that caused of military age to be turned down as unfit for active service.' We can never be a truly great nation until we raise the cult of physical fitness into something approaching a religion. Not only do I -want to eee the society put in_an absolutely sound position, but I am anxious .that it should extend its usefulness. It should seriously consider the proposal to maintain maternity nurses. It is only the other week that I heard' of a man whose latest child cost him some £27 to bring into the world. There were no special difficulties about the little chap's coming in ait all, and if such costs be at all common — and I am led to believe that such is the case—can we wonder if people of somewhat slender means are doing some deep thinking these times?" Mr Burnett offers this financial help for two years, the amount of his gift being £2OO a year.