PATEA PLUNKET SOCIETY

Patea Mail, Volume LI, 11 April 1930, Page 2

PATEA PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL AIEETING. The annual meeting u±‘ the Eaten Piunkot Society was lield on Tuesday evening, ilf. Huberts presiding over a very large gathering. Apologies tor non-attendance were received from the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. H. G. Dickie ALP., Dr. Simmons, Air. and Airs. A. N. Williams, Air. and Airs. W. F. Sheild, Air. and Airs. Frank Naismith, Airs. G. W. King, Airs. C. Hunger, Rev. A. Smaill and Airs. Smaill, Dr. Graves, Airs. Cranford (Wheuuakura), and Rev. C. Aker and Airs. Aker.

The minutes of the previous annual meeting and a special general meeting were, read and confirmed.

Airs. Roberts, president of the soeiety, expressed her pleasure at such a representative gathering. Air. Roberts expressed regret at both Dr. Simmons and Air. H. G. Dickie, ■ ALP., being able to be present. The annual report was read as follows:—In presenting the 13th annual report ns a sub-branch for tho x car ended Alarch 31, 1930, and our first report as a branch, your committee has pleasure in stating that it has been a year of great progress—a red letter year in our history. In July we received official sanction from Central Council to our becoming a fully fledged branch and at the same time we wore registered as an incorporated society. the necessary documents being signed at a very well attended meeting on July 30. The groat generosity of Air. E. F. Warren as trustee of the Hunter Shaw Estate has made our branch the possessor of Plunkct Rooms. The Shaw Alemorial Building will Comprise the Patea Public Library and our rooms. A great many meetings both of the general committee and the executive and with our Advisory Board and in conjunction with the Library Committee were hold. Following a visit by the architect, Air. Gummer, of Auckland, plans were finally approved, tenders called, and a contract with Air. A. G. Bignell signed for £3899. Air. Warren made a further grant from the estate to cover any deficiency and the architect’s and cleric of work’s foes. ■The building is making good progress and in a few weeks we hope to see our nurse in residence. Our annual dance on May 4 last year was quite a success as a dance, but owing to very bad weather was not so financially successful as it usually is. On August 29 the Alton-Hurleyvillc sub-bra.uch was formed and our nurse now visits Alton once each week. The results are most gratifving. Another sub-branch was formed at Tvakaramea on October 10, the day on which ATiss Horrcll commenced her duties as Plunkct Nurse. A\ T e arc all pleased indeed tto have such a capable, conscientious, and cheerful nurse, and trust she wall bo happy amongst us. In the same month of October Dr. Derrick, Medical Director of Plunkct Affairs, visited us. Both Waverlcy and Patea ladies expressed groat appreciation of his address, wdiieh did much to stimulate interest in our work. Wo hope he will come again soon. In December we held our annual fete and Christmas tree, which resulted most successfully in a not sum of £42. ,f Mothers’ Day” took place in Alarch in the Town Hall supper room when a happy afternoon was spent. An innovation was a. volunteer nurse girl corps, and the babies and children were well cared for on the lawns in the sunshine, enabling the mothers to enjoy themselves upstairs. A demonstration on milk modification was given by the bnirso and a competition and gramophone items added to tho enjoyment. Your committee attended the meeting in .support of the establishment of a dental clinic in Patea and many members were also actively engaged in canvassing for the Obstetrical Appeal Fund', with a splendid result from Patea in this good object. In September wo had to bid farewell to our wcll-lovcd Nurse Smith. This was inevitable on our becoming a branch. A farewell social afternoon -was hold, a large number of mothers and members being present. A well-filled wallet was presented to Aliss Smith from the committee and. mothers and an appreciation of her faithful service placed on record. Tho committee during the year has lost several valuable members, who have left the district. Alention should be specially bo made of Airs. Crabb, Airs. Tennet, and Airs. Robinson. We wish them health and happiness in their new surroundings. We desire to record our appreciation of the faithful and loyal work of past committees. w T ho have helped through strenuous times to our present achievement. Our thanks are due and arc heartily given to all who have helped the society during the year. Firstly to our nurses for their loyal services, to the Borough and County Councils for the use of their respective rooms, to the Town Clerk (Air. Ray) for his unfailing courtesy, to the postmaster for lists of birth notifications, to our Advisory Board for their help throughout the year, to Air. T. E. Roberts (our honorary solicitor) especially in the formation of the branch and Registration as an incorporated society, to Air. G. Pettigrew' for framing our first branch balance-sheet, and to Air. W. F. Sheild (ohr honorary auditor), to tho proprietors of the Patea Picture Theatre for many kindnesses, to the Waverlcy Amateur Dramatic Society for the production of two plays in Patea, to Air. E. Noilson for reduced taxi hire, and to the Press for ample reports of our doings and to the Patea Brass Baud. And lastly wo take this opportunity of thanking the public for their support and wo appeal for new members to help ns in our efforts to “Help the mothers and stive the

i babies.” | The annual balance-sheet was also .read, showing a credit balance of £IG2

.11s Dd. j Mrs. Graves fWaverley) read the rej port of the Wtiverloy brunch of the

society, Mrs. Cleinaneo (Alton) the report of tiie Alton brunch, and Miss Lcversedgc (Kakaramea) tin? report of the Kakaramea branch.

In moving the adoption of the reports Mrs. Eoberts gave a brief outline of the history of the society, which was founded by .Sir Truby King 24 years ago, the Pa tea branch being formed 14 years ago. The speaker quoted the words of Sir Charles Fergusson that "one would have to be very stupid, dull, and unimaginative if one did not recognise the importance of the society and the immense good it had done, not only for the Dominion, but fvi - the Empire at large.’’ The progress of the society had been remarkable, its activities extending as far as Northern China. In conclusion Mrs. Eoberts thanked the committee for the loyal support accorded her during the past year, which had been a particularly happy one. Mrs. Pettigrew seconded the resolution.

The report, and •balance-sheet, the latter being subject to audit, were then adopted. Nurse Horrell’s report was then read.

The president said she would like to thank the following in addition to those already mentioned, namely, Mr. Eoots for use of china, Mr. Williams for free cartage, Mrs. Jenkins for acting as assistant-secretary, Mrs. Semple for doing secretarial work when the secretary was absent, the Plunkct fathers, Mr. G. W. King, Misses Neal and Y. Shcild for typing. The election of officers was then proceeded with and resulted as follows: President: Airs. Eoberts (re-elected).

Vice-presidents: Mesdames R. Hunger, R. W. Haddow, and G. Pettigrew. Hon. Secretary: Mrs. E. G. Honeyfield (re-elected). General Committee: Mesdames Mellor, Mcßae, C. Carey, Jenkins, Thomas, Macken, Smiles-, Pauling, Nelson, Stevens, Torrens, Ramsbottom, Petersen, .1. Pearce, Roots, G. W. Williams, D. Roots, McMahon, Lester, Harris, ingiey, C. Hunger, and Miss B. Gibson, and officers ex officio. Hon. Auditor: Mr. W. E. Sheild.

Advisory Board: Messrs. Findlay, Hemingway, Christensen, Ramsbottom (the latter subject to his approval). The president asked for eight volunteers for the conveyance of Nurse Horrell to give one hour a mouth each. The names are to be handed to the secretary.

Miss Rose, mal ion of the Karitane Hospital at Wanganui gave a brief and interesting address on Plunkct work. Some two years ago they opened, the Mothercraft Home in Wanganui and stepped into line with the other six Karitane homes in the Dominion. When they opened they aimed at taking four mothers and babies at a time. For the first year it was rather uphill work, both mothers and doctors not realising what the home was. The total number of mothers admitted last year was 59 and this year it had increased to 98. They desired to get the mothers immediately they left the nursing home and to teach the young mothers the principles of infant welfare, they hoped in time to so educate the people that there would be no need ,: or Plunket Societies. They felt that by educating the mothers from the beginning they would eventually stamp out sickness amongst the infants, particularly digestion troubles. It would not be in this generation, but they hoped to achieve their object in the years to come. They aimed, too, at making the mothers feel that in the Karitane Home they were at home and not in an institution. The speaker then outlined the daily routine of mothers, showing the treatment of both mothers and infants. Details were also given of the treatment of sick infants that were in the homo without their mothers, explaining how humanised milk was modified so as to suit the da sc of each particular infant. The improvement in the case of infants received at the homo was most encouraging. It was difficult to recognise the chubby little infants as the very thin babies received at the home. It was said look after the pennies and the ■pounds would take care of themselves. They could also add to this and say, “look after the babies and the nation will look after itself.’’ (Applause.) They at the home wore very proud of their “normal’’ babies, one ‘Mickey,’ had been with them from the time he was five days old till lie was now 16 months 1 old, and from the time he was three .months he had been perfectly normal in every way. (Applause.)

Mrs. B.laekmorc* said that as one who had been an inmate of the Mothorcraft Homo during Miss Lowe's term of office as matron, she could endorse all that Miss Hose had said about the institution being a real home.

On the motion of Mrs. 'Roberts a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded Miss Lose for her very interesting and instructive address.

A hearty vote of thanks to the chair closed the business portion of the mcct-

A very fine and all too brief con,cert programme was then rendered, items being rendered by Mr. Parker, Mrs. F. W. Hamel, Mrs. Graves, and Mrs. McOrca (Waverley). 'The ‘National Anthem’ was then sung, after which the gathering adjourned to the supper room, where a dainty supper was served. /