PATEA PLUNKET SOCIETY

Patea Mail, Volume L, 31 July 1929, Page 3

PATEA PLUNKET SOCIETY

A BRANCH FORMED,

A meeting of the members of the Patea sub-branch of the Plunkct Society was held in the County Council chambers on Monday night, for the purpose of consenting to an application for the formation of a branch of the society in Patea and for its registration under the Incorporated Societies’ Act, and for the adoption of rules of such branch.

Mrs. Roberts, president of the local branch, presided and stated that lo years ago the society was formed in Patea with a committee of six, including Mrs. W. F. -Shcild, who was present that night. Others of the committee iwjere Mcsdamcss Giaingci. Barnett, Strouts, Fleming, and Stephenson. Miss Honcylicld was the Plunkct Nurse at the time. Continuing, Mrs. Roberts said that she had been a member of the society for 21 years. As a matter of fact, she had been present at the inaugural meeting of the society in Dunedin. The speaker briefly outlined the work of the society, both in the Dominion and at Home, whore quite recently the foundation stone of a building to cost £250,000 had been laid. The society also operated in Palestine, where branches were financed by ladies in Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne. The society was also operating in South Africa and Tasmania. In New York Miss Cissic Bowen was also carrying the society’s banner. In .fall Jt-hesa pjaces except Palestine the matrons in charge had had their Training in the Karitanc Hospital in Dunedin. Another (very important milestone passed last yeai on the road of the society was the Karitanc Products Society for carrying on the work of providing artificial cream, etc. In 1927 the factory owned by Sir Truby King was foimally landed over to the society. The infantile death rate in New Zealand is a world’s record, mainly owing to the Plunkct Society’s work. Another important event was the establishment of the' Lady Jving Scholarship, which ■vas endowed by the society uith £3OOO, the first to win it being Professor Eastorficld’s daughter, who afterwards passed her M.D. degree. They felt in Patea that they were keeping with the main body, and she would like to congratulate members on the loyal support which had made the extension possible. The nurse would visit Waverley, which would be a subbranch of Patea, twice a week. The local branch would extend from the Manawapou to the Waitotara River. She would formally move that a branch of the Royal Plunkct Society be formed in Patea...

The resolution was seconded by Mrs. VV. F. Shcild and carried unanimously. It was also resolved on the motion of the president, seconded by Mrs. Hunger, that the society be brought under the Incorporated Societies’ Act. Mr, Roberts explained that the registration meant that the branch would have a full legal status and could sue and be sued. It was necessary in accordance with the society’s rules that each branch be incorporated.

The president explained that they had so many business meetings lately that members had perhaps forgotten the objects of the society. The president then read the objects of the society as follows: —

(1) To uphold the sacrcd.ncss of the body and the duty of health, to inculcate a lofty view of the responsibilities of maternity. (2) To acquire accurate information and knowledge on matters affecting the health of women and children and to disseminate such knowledge through the agency of members. (3) To train specially and to employ qualified; nurses, *, whose duty it will bo to giVc sound, reliable instruction, advice, and assistance gratis to any member of the community on matters affecting the health ond well-be-ing of women. (6) To co-operate with any present or future organisations' /which arc working for any of the foregoing or cognate objects. The president made a special appeal to members to increase the membership. The society wished to treble its membership. Mrs. G. W. King had already obtained 12, but if members would only try and got two new members it would help the society considerably. Mrs. King said she had had no difficulty in obtaining new members. The question only needed to be brought before the notice of people to get them

to join. There being no further business the meeting adjourned.