PLUNKET SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 19249, 13 June 1921, Page 6

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. The Invercargill branch of the Plunket Society held its annual meeting recently, Mr J. L. McG. Watson presiding. The annual report, covering the Society’s local activities during the year, was adopted. In reference to the balance sheet th< report stated: — “The expenditure during the year has exceeded the receipts by £57 10s 2d. Thia has been due to an increase in Nurse Law’a salary from £l5O to £165 per annum; to an increase in rent from 5s to 10s per week; to expenses amounting to £l4 10s 4d incurred in furnishing and equipping Nurse> z new room; to payment of £l4 towards Central Council—expenses for two years fending March 31, 1920, and we regret tc say to a falling off in members’ subscriptions. We are faced with a further increase in expenses when our new nursa arrives, as the salary of Plunket nas been raised from £l5O to £2OB per eLnum and moreover, our share towards U.e Central Council expenses will be greater this jear owing to conference expenses (printing of rules, reports, registrat/jn, etc.). Therefore, urgent need for n»jre members is apparent, and more fricz.ds to assist us with increased donations. It is to Nune Law’s credit that during the year she has sold £7 16s worth of books, whereas the highest received for sale of books, in any previous year, was £2 Ils.”

The Nurse’s report give the following particulars:—New cases for the year, babies only, 212 ; No. of babies on the list, 448, No. of wholly breast fed babies, 112; No. of supplemented babie« 16; No. of artificially fed babies, 84; No. of expectant mothers, 28; No. of letters written, 57; No. of mothers shown how to make H.M., 89; No. of visits paid to homes, new cases, 484; No. of visits paid to homes, old cases, 1938; total, 3468. No of visitsors to office, adults, 698; No. of visitors to office, babies, 538; total, 1256. The year has been a very busy and a vgry successful olc. Though there was a great deal of sickness last winter, there was hnly one death among the babies on our list, several having had pneumonia, whooping cough and measles, but all made good recoveries. The new room is sunny and central and much appreciated by the country mothers as a rest rcom.

During his opening remarks Mr Watson complimented members on the work accomplished during the year and specially referred to the manner in which Nurse Law had carried out her duties, evidence of which as manifested by the fact that of the large number of cases treated only one had proved fatak Nurse Graham, who is taking up the work in this district and was present, was welcomed by Mr Watson. Dr Ritchie Crawford addressed the meeting and gave interesting and instructive information regarding child welfare and the work of the Society generally.

Captain Goffin (Salvation Army) also spoke, emphasising the importance of the care of infants and stated that as a result of his observations he was convinced that the Plunket nurses had done more to minimise the death rate among infants than any society or individuals in the dominion. The election of office bearers resulted ai follows:—President, Mrs T. D. Pearce; vicepresidents, Mcsdames A. B. Haggitt, W. J. Hawley, C. B. Snow; commit tee,-Mesdamea R. A. Anderson, W. A. Ott, C. C. Jennings, W. Rennie, H. W. Royds, J. B. Sale, Wm. S. Todd, C. Longue*, J. Callender, A. A. Crainond, J. G. Macdonald, N. Armour, Jno. MacDonald, J. F. Lillicrap, W. F. Scandrett, I. J. Yule, Goffin, and Sister Stubbs; advisory committee, Messrs J. L. McG. Watson, Dr Ritchie Crawford, John Gilkison and H. W. Royds; hon. secretary, Mrs Ritchie Crawford; hon. treasurer, Mr» James Macalister. Votes of thanks to the chairman, Messn Leary, Cuthbertson and Webb (auditors), advisory board, the press and outgoing committees concluded the business, after which afternoon tea was provided and dispensed by members of the committee.

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