PLUNKET SOCIETY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19044, 18 June 1936, Page 11

PLUNKET SOCIETY

WAIROA BRANCH

ANNUAL MEETING

(Herald Correspondent.; The annual meeting of the Wairoa branch of the Plunket Society was held in St. Andrew's schoolroom, there being a largo attendance. The Mayor, Mr. 11. L. Harker, occupied the chair, and on the platform also were Dr. Martin Tweed, medical adviser to the New Zealand Plunket Society, Mis. J. Ross, president of the Wairoa branch, and Mrs. R. Mackay, the secretary. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Mr. Harker said the amount needed each year to keep the society at work was considerable, and although the Wairoa branch this year had managed to balance the budget, it could have done more had the means been available. Tt had been thought by some that the subscriptions to the society should be reduced, but the fact. that they had a little nest egg should not conduce to such a contention, for at any moment a heavy call might be made, and, seeing the size of the district covered, there were not nearly enough subscribers. Tho report and balance sheet were adopted without further comment. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The election of officers resulted:— President, Mrs. J. Ross; treasurer, Mrs. C. V. Chamberlain; secretary, Mrs. R. Mackav; committee, Mesdames 11. L. Harker, \V. M. Butterfield, M. Hislop, J. 0. Scott, F. 11. Jones, 11. Probblc, EI. Crichton, 0. J. Pinel, F. A. How, Miss Harvey, Miss Meßao, Mesdames ('. Jackson (Ardkeon), .1. Nicol, and 11. P.reen (Tuai), G. Gaddum (Mohaku), .1. Gillespie, K. H. (Hen- 1 dinning, O. V. Chamberlain, Gilkinson, F. Mardon, P. A. Milne, McArdle, F. Steed, P. Glass, F. A. Crarer, D. Evans, G. O'Malley, Murray, Bayly, W. J. Clark, and Mrs. Angus Osier; advisory board, Misses E. L. Thomson, .1. R. Gillespie, C. V. Chamberlain, and Dr. ,T. Ross; auditor, Mr. J. .1. Millar.

Mrs. h'oss tendered her thanks to all the officer's for their services during the past year, specially mentioning the members of the advisory hoard. She was looking forward this year to the younger women to come forward and help in the work. Apologies were made on behalf of Mesdames F. 11. .tones, A. T. Carroll, and E. L. Thomson, ami regret was expressed that Mesdames Carroll. Beckett and Mow-at "were unable to carry on owing to increasing home duties, Mrs. Mowat in the past having done a lot of hard work in placiug the society on a. good footing. THE FEEDING OK RABIES

Dr. Tweed congratulated the branch on the report, the chief feature of which wns that out of 152 cases dealt with 135 babies were breast-fed, a performance of which the district could be proud. This

was what the Plunket Society stootl for, the fostering of natural feeding. He spoke of Sir Truhy King's ideal, and said that the hundreds of people who :>rvc their services had no other thought than rendering service to the mothers nod I lie babies of the Dominion, ffo then quoted figures to show that the benefits were great and also dealt with flie criticism from various quarters about artificial feedings. He had no hesitation in saying that but for the scientific evolution of artificial feeding the infantile mortality would be enormous. The rearing of children would never he safe until every baby was naturally fed by its mother. Dr. Tweed was given a hearty vote of thanks at the close of a fine address. The meeting passed a vote of sympathy with Sir Trubv King in his illness, and of appreciation of the great work lie had done.