MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13880, 17 April 1909, Page 7

MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.

MEETING OF THE TIMARU SOCIETY. • A meeting of the Timarir branch of the Society for the Promotion of the Health, of Women and Children was held yesterday at the residence of Mrs H. f. Smithson. The society was formed in Dunedin iff.1907, since when branches have been established in "Wellington, Auckland, Christ-church,. Napier. New Plymouth, Palnierstori and'Tiinaru, and Tnvercargill will open one next month. The Timaru branch was started about twoand a half months ago,' Dr Truby King coming up from Dunedin for the purpose. Mrs G .E. Gabites was then appointed honorary secretary, but for private reasons she had to relinquish '-the duties, and /Mrs Smithson has .kindly undertaken them. Sister Alice, the first matron of the Kr.ritane Baby Hospital at Dunedin, was appointed P.lnnket Nurse for the Timaru branch, and she has since carried out the duties ■of mothers' instructor with increasing demand for her assistance. . Dr Truby King again presided at yesterday's meeting. He spoke first of the indebtedness of the society to Dr and Mrs Gabites for the interest they had taken" in the work, both before and since the foundation of the local branch and mentioned that they had not only assisted Sister Alice in other ways, but had also given her a bicycle, that enabled her to visit mothers at a distance without undue loss of time. Dr King referred to the published objects of the society, the chief of which are these: "1. To disseminate accurate information on matters affecting the health of women and children by means of lectures, demonstrations, pamphlets, , correspondence, teaching in the home, and otherwise.- \ "2. To UDhold the sacredness of the body and the duty of health; to in■cnlcate a lofty view of the responsibilities of maternity and the duty of every mother to fit herself for the perfect "fulfilment of all the natural calls of motherhood both before and after child-birth. " 2.. To' provide for the analysis of mflk. both human and prepared. "4. To provide and employ nurse's ready at any time to give advice and instruction to mothers, in the home or elsewhere, with a view to conserving the health, and strength of the rising generation, and rendering both mother and offspring hardy, healthy and resistive to flisease." Futher objects specified related to the promotion of legislation favouring the health of women and children; co-op-eration with other societies having like aims; and assisting in measures for the care of waifs and strays, especially during infancy. The following are the names of the committee appointed at the meeting: President, Mrs J .P. Newman; Hon. Sec, Mrs S. F. Smithson; Hon. Treas., Mrs F. Raymond; Committee, Mesdames .Arthur, Baumber, Burns. Caudv, Donn, "W. Evans, A. S. Elworthy, H. Ehvorthy. Guinness, W. Grant. Gabites, Gresson* A. E. Hunt, Hill. G. Jones, kyneh, Loughnan, H. Le Cren, Miles, .ZUnore, J. P. Newman, C. Newman, Oddie, Perry, G. Robinson, R v H. Rhodes, F. Raymond, Rtinson, Iv. G. Turner, T. Thompson, Talbot, Tasker, and TTnwin; Misses Jonas, Keddie, Seorell. and Todd. Dr Gabites, Mr Gresson and Mr G. Jlaymond, having consented to act were appointed an Advisory Board, with power to add to their number. Dr King explained the financial basis of the society and pointed out that in other centres it had been found best tn ask in the first instance for substantial donations in order to place thp society on a p""tiil financial ba=is. Tn Dunedin in particular the response bad been cx j tremefv liberal, over £I2OO being received in voluntary subscriptions in I'ttle over f-.iT ,,, c months, a nuinb'T of donations of .-C2;"> each beins received. As there was no bibv hospital to ciuin and maintain in T'maru, t'>o needs oF tlio branch would he met if peop!e of means could spare sav five jnt]nf>ris each in order to giro the organisation

a proper start, and afterwards it would doubtless be well maintained by more numerous annual subscriptions of 5s from members (with an optional fee of one guinea for members of committee). He had himself spoken to several people, and judging from the manner of their response, he had concluded that they would not limit themselves to the sum he bad mentioned if more had been necessary. Dr King gave the following list of five guinea donations already promised : —Mrs W. Evans, Mrs -Newman, Mrs R. H. Rhodes, Mrs Truby King, ,Dr Truby King.' The. treasurer had also received from Mrs Hall, Elizabeth street, 10s and Mrs Hardy, Stafford street, os. Dr King expressed his high appreciation of what he termed the generous and spirited action of the Mayor-and Borough Councillors in voluntarily offering to provide for the Plnnket Nurse in -Timaru for a month. He mentioned that the society purposes having a central office for the Phmket Nurse, where she will attend at stated times, and will also be accessible by telephone. Sister Alic« is now attending some thirty mothers and- babies, and has been giving lectures at the hospital on the care of mother and child, and a request has been received Mr Grant, the director of the Tacht""al School, for a conrso of instruction to yoiiiHt women during the "resent winter. Alice is al c o doing useful work bv means of correspondence with mothers in the country, and will be. glad to extend this form of usefulness. \ v°te of thanks '"'as passed to Dr Kiner fer eomin"- to Timaru and presiding at. the meeting.,