PLUNKET BABIES

Southland Times, Issue 22758, 7 December 1935, Page 8

PLUNKET BABIES

PHOTOGRAPHS DISPLAYED. A FINE EXHIBITION. No fewer than 275 beautiful photographs of bonny Southland babies, each a wonderful testimonial to the Plunket system, were the centre of keen public interest in H. & J. Smith’s lounge yesterday afternoon when an exhibition arranged by the local Plunket Society was officially opened by Sir Robert Anderson. Northern exhibitions of a similar nature have attracted considerable patronage not only on the part of those parents who have had the advantages of the valuable work carried on by the various branches of the society, but also by the public as a whole, and judging by the large number of people present yesterday the local effort seems assured of a like measure of success. The exhibition is really in the form of a competition, the charming photographs having been attractively arranged into six different classes, according to ages. Voting papers are procurable at one penny each, and, as the proceeds are in aidjof the Plunket nurses, no doubt the public fully sensible of their wonderful work, will “vote early and often” —to quote the appeal of Mrs A. F. Ritchie Crawford (president of the Invercargill Society) —and so make the effort a financial success. The exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. In declaring the exhibition open, Sir Robert Anderson conveyed the thanks of the Plunket Society to H. & J. Smith, Ltd., for that firm’s consideration in allowing the full use of their lounge for the exhibition and, in addition, for so effectively mounting the many beautiful photographs. It was not the first time Mr J. W. Smith had shown his practical interest in the society and that interest was sincerely appreciated. Though the society received a certain subsidy from the Government, said Sir Robert, it had really to be sustained by the voluntary effort of those interested in the great work. Anyone with a knowledge of the ramifications of the society must realize the enormous advantages, to mothers and babes alike, derived from the establishment of the society with its fine body of nurses and officials. Sir Robert remarked that he did not think anyone but Sir Truby King could have established the society in such a short time. It was, indeed, a wonderful monument to Sir Truby’s conception of the great work. “The chief object of this exhibition is to assist the funds of our society and I hope everyone will vote,” Sir Robert added. “I hope the result will be very satisfactory.” “Vote early and vote often,” was the advice given to the gathering by Mrs A. F. Ritchie Crawford. The number of photographs exhibited was, she said, a great credit to the people of Invercargill. Mrs Crawford expressed thanks to Sir Robert Anderson for officiating at the opening of the exhibition and paid a warm tribute to the generous practical interest he had always taken in the society’s activities. The large number present then took the opportunity of viewing the photographs arranged around the walls. These pictures were a testimonial not alone to the Plunket Society, but also the artistry of the photographers.