PLUNKET SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 20201, 11 June 1927, Page 8

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE FINANCES IN FLOURISHING CONDITION The annual meeting of the Plunket Society was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday at 3 p.m., the Hon. A. F. Hawke, of the Advisory Board, presiding. In moving the adoption of the annual I report and balance-sheet, Mr Hawke spoke of the excellent work that the society had done during the year. Despite the extra expense caused by the opening of the Karitane-Hunt Hospital, the year had been a financially successful one. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated the number I of new cases at the Anderson Home was rather smaller than last year, but more visits had been paid to homes. That was probably accounted for by the long spells of rough weather, during which the nurses considered it wiser to visit at the homes of the patients. Both nurses and visitors continued to express their pleasure at the beautifully sunny position of the Home and beautiful surroundings. They looked forward to the time when a still greater use would be made of the building. The official opening of the KaritaneHunt Mothercraft Hospital took place on December 8, 1926. Mr H. W. Royds, one of the Advisory Board, presided and asked Mrs J. A. Johnstone, Dominion President, formally to declare the hospital open. Mr and Mrs W. D. Hunt, the donors, were present and were delighted with all that , had been done to prepare the building for its new use. Mr Hunt expressed his wish that the hospital wing should be called the Massey wing, in recognition of Mrs and Miss Massey's generosity. Miss Liddiard, of the Mothercraft Training Centre in Lon-

don, who had come from Dunedin with Miss Pattrick (Director of Plunket Nursing) to be present at the opening, gave an in- ' teresting talk about the work as carried on in London. Mr A. Hamilton, M.P. for Awarua, also spoke in appreciation of the gift. All present regretted the absence of Sir Truby King, due to an accident in Wellington. His absence was the one thing lacking in an otherwise successful function. The success of the new venture was assured from the outset. The fondest hopes of the committee had been surpassed, and the work was now going on steadily. Miss McIntyre, one of the Plunket Nursing staff, was appointed Sister, and with the assistance of Karitane Nurses Kensington and Calder and members of the committee, prepared the hospital for the patients. They were fortunate in securing Miss McHaffie as Matron, and they felt assured, that under her able guidance, the nurses would be well trained, the babies improved in health, and the mothers taught the principles of mothercraft. There was no doubt that the Home had already justified its establishment in Southland, and mothers from all parts of the province were still seeking admission. They wished to thank Miss Pattrick for her great help in the preparation of their new Mothercraft Hospital. She came down several times, and spent many hours considering how to do the best with the means at their disposal. The gardener, Mr Stewart, had good reason to be proud of the grounds and beautiful vegetable garden. They also thanked Mr T. P. Royds, architect, for all the thought and care he put into his work, in altering the buildings at Bainfield. They desired to thank Nurse Wilson for the generous offer of a room in her house for the use of the Plunket Nurse in the Waikiwi district. This will enable the mothers from the surrounding district to come to the nurse, instead of the nurse having to pay so many visits to homes. The room has been supplied with the necessary articles, and is now in use by the nurse. During the year the society met with a serious loss in the death of Lady King. Ever since the foundation she had been an able assistant to the founder. They wished to express to Sir Truby King their appreciation of her wonderful work. Her example would never be forgotten. The death of Mrs Theomin was also a great loss to the Plunket Society. Mrs Theomin had been hon. treasurer almost since its foundation, and had done marvellous work in managing the finances, not only of the Dunedin branch, but also of the Central Council. During the year assistance was asked towards the establishment of the “Lady King Scholarship.” The request came at a time when they were preparing to open their Mothercraft Hospital, so they were not able to send as much as they would have liked. At the General Conference held in Wellington July 12, 1926, Mrs Hawke attended and kept supplied reports of the work done. Thanks were expressed to Mr E. B. Pilcher for the able way in which he had assisted by doing the work of secretary and treasurer, and for the use of the room for committee meetings. During the year there had been several changes. Nurse Mclntyre was appointed Sister at the Karitane-Hunt Mothercraft Hospital. Nurse Allen, who had been relieving during the holidays of the nurses, agreed to stay on for a time in Nurse Mclntyre’s place. On Nurse Alien’s departure Nurse Marcussen joined the staff as relieving nurse. No special effort to improve finances had been made during the past year. The committee wished to place before all interested in the work of the Plunket Society the need for continuous assistance. Although the Government does help by a grant, that grant is not sufficient to pay for everything. The work would be rendered easy, if everyone who was able to do so, would donate a small sum yearly. Five shillings a year was not much to ask for, and members of the committee, the secretary and nurses are always willing to receive it. It should not be necessary to wait to be asked by members of the committee. The thanks of the committee were due to Mr W. D. Hunt, Borough Council, Press, McKinnon Trust and others, and all those who assisted in the preparing of the Kari-tane-Hunt Hospital. The resignations from the committee during the year of Miss Trotter, Mrs R. Taylor and Mrs Stanley Brown, who have been valuable workers for the society, were much ; regretted. They would be very much missed . by the committee. . The balance-sheet showed a balance carried forward of £lB4B 6/4, the main items > of revenue being—Subscriptions £56 3/6, donations £245 13/3, interest £175 5/4, > hospital maintenance £lOB 12/6, Opening Day £lO5 10/9, endowment £2500; emulsion £223 10/2, grant for nurses £4OO 7/-, contributions from sub-branches £llB 14/-, and branch endowments £4OO, with various small items making a total of £6251 6/7. The main items of expenditure were— Salaries and wages £1093 19/-, Anderson Home expenses £169 15/2, Karitane-Hunt Hospital expenses £199 18/-, building improvements £l5OO, furnishing hospital £673 18/9, emulsion £2OO, H. Massey endowment £lOOO, Savings Bank endowment £4OO, and small items making a total of £5303 9/8, and leaving a balance of £948 16/11. ’ After the adoption of the annual report ’ and balance-sheet the following officebearers were re-elected—President, Mrs T. . D. Pearce; secretary, Mr Pilcher, vice-pre- ’ sidents, Mesdames Royds, Gilmour, Robertson; committee, Mesdames J. Callender, John Macdonald, A. F. Hawke, C. C. Jennings, C. S. Longuet, Burwell, W. Macalister, Parkin, J. B. Sale, R. M. Strang, J. 1 Thomson, W. S. Todd, F. H. Hall, McCarr roll, J. McLeod, R. A. Anderson, H. J. b Farrant, C. Campbell, W. G. Tait, W. f Hammond, Ritchie Crawford; advisory t board, Messrs R. A. Anderson, John Gilkie son, C. C. Jennings, H. W. Royds, J. s McLeod, J. Robertson, Hon. A. F. Hawke and Dr Ritchie Crawford.

Dr Ritchie Crawford then spoke to the meeting of’ the high standard of work that was being done at the Karitane-Hunt Hospital. He was aware that the work of the society was kept going by subscriptions, donations, and Government subsidies, and he was of the opinion that a greater effort should be made to enlarge the list of subscribers. The annual subscription was only 5/-, and he suggested that the nurses should impress this fact upon the mothers. The Karitane-Hunt Hospital was now in full swing, and since the opening the accommodation had been fully taxed. The success of the hospital was due to the matron and staff, who were working so incessantly and cheerfully for the welfare of the mothers and children. Some wonderful results had already been obtained. Dr Crawford also spoke of the interest that Mr Bell had taken in the babies, and that since the opening of the hospital he had treated one baby free of charge. Mrs Macalister proposed that a vote of thanks to Mr Bell be passed. The motion was seconded and carried. A vote of thanks to the committee, the matron, and staff of the Karitane-Hunt Hospital were carried by acclamation. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.