LARGE INCREASE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1935, Page 7

LARGE INCREASE

PLUNKET WORK AT PATEA. SOUND FINANCIAL POSITION.. There was a record attendance at the annual meeting of the Patea branch of the Plunket Society on Wednesday, Dr. Martin B. Tweed, medical adviser to the Plunket Society, presiding. The president, Mrs. R. W. Haddow, and the secretary, Mrs. L. Honeyfield, were presented with bouquets by Mrs. T. E. Roberts, former president of the branch. Dr. Tweed said that it was staggering to see so many present; one might think it was the Plunket headquarters. He asked them to stand in memory of the late Mr. Hunter Shaw, whose bequest had made their branch’s fine building possible. The annual report stated that there had been an all-round increase in the work, the visits to homes and Plunket rooms by the nurse, Miss G. Tompkins, having increased from 4326 in 1934 to 5698 in 1935. Much of the credit was due to the nurse herself. There had been 110 babies in the year as compared with 9a last year. It was hoped that greater appreciation of parents’ - responsibilities had influenced attendances to secure the free and expert advice that was available to all. Practically every baby in the district attended the rooms, but the older children up to five years were not attending regularly. The nurse reported that there were 181 babies- under supervision at Patea and in the outstations. She had visited outstations on 191 days, Waverley 101, Alton 48, Waitotara 21, Kakaramea 21, Patea 57, total 248 days. Visits to homes and headquarters were: Old 392, new 110, total 502; out-stations, old 110, new 49, total 159. Visits to rooms were headquarters, adults 1028, babies 869, older children 327, total 2224; Waverley, adults 1123, babies 988; Alton, adults 248, babies 238; older children 48, total 544, Waitotara, adults 137, babies 114, older children 17, total 268; Kakaramea, adults 90, babies 87, older children 4, total 181; visits to rooms 5695. Mrs. I. Jones and Messrs. A. T. Christensen, F. Ramsbottom, L. W. Austin and E. F. Hemingway. congratulated the branch on its position. Mrs. Haddow explained that the credit balance had been achieved as the result of many years’ work and it was the aim of the committee to establish a reserve fund. The branch carried a big load and without the sub-committee’s co-operation it could not succeed. An increase of 25 per cent, on the nurse’s visits was reported and the question of quicker transport would have to be considered. Officers were elected as follow: President, Mrs. R. W. Haddow; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames R- Hunger, T. E. Roberts, W. F. Sheild, S. Mcßae, Mulholland, Lee’ Gibbs, Lord, J. Pearce; general committee, Mesdames L. Austin, L. Adams, J. Anderson, S. Crawford, Hunger, E. Harris, C. Herbert, W. Ingley, I. Jones, G. Macken, T. -Nelson, J. Pearce, J. Petersen, T. Roberts, D. Roots, R. Stevens, A. Smiles, M. Sumich, G. Corbett, T. Anderson, T. PreScott, G. Pettigrew, E. Horner, C. Bates, W. Downey, C. Whittington, I. Glenny, Mulholland, Currie, Gibbs, Hodgetts, Lee, Hodgetts (Waitotara), Lord, Hamblyn; solicitor, Mr. T. E. Roberts; auditors, Messrs. W._F. Sheild and G. Pettigrew; secretary, Mrs. L. Honeyfield. Tribute to Mrs. Honeyfield’s tact and efficiency as secretary was paid by speakers. Dr. Tweed gave an address. A resolution expressing the affection of and goodwill to the founder, Sir Truby King, was carried. Mrs. M. Sumich, Mrs. P. V. Graves and Mr. I. Jones contributed to a short musical programme after which supper was served.