WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13975, 9 August 1909, Page 6

WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THE PLUNKET NURSE. Tho monthly meeting of the Timaru branch of the Society for Promoting the Health of Women and Children was held on Saturday afternoon. Present Mesdames Newman (in the <-hair), Smithson (lion, sec), Baumber, Stinson, Oddie, Tasker, Gabites, Jones, Perrv, Raymond, A. Elworthy, Talbot, Raymond, Arthur, Lynch, and Miss Jonas. About a score new members were added to the roll, and a few donations from os to £5 5s were recorded. The secretary reported that leaflets of instructions were being, revised, and would bo issued shortly. A letter from Lady Plunkot's secretary reported that the date 'of the general conference at Wellington had been fixed for October 14th.—The selection of a delegate to represent this branch was postponed to next meeting. The secretary reported that steps were being taken to form branches, with local committees, at Temuka, Geraldine and Fairlie. Fairlie requested that Sister .Alice be spared two nights in succession, so that she might lecture at Silverstream and Alburv as well as at Fairlie. The treasurer reported receipts to date £95 4s lOd, and expenditure £64 Is 3d credit balance £3l 3s 7d. It was stated that there was now practicallv no chance of obtaining any Government subsidy this year, therefore the usponsibility of raising tho whole of the balance of £2OO to meet the' year's expenditure must be faced. Hitherto, it was remarked; very little had been received from the families whose mothers and infants had been benefited by the advice of Sister Alice and it was hoped that those who could afford it would recognise that, as the Societv was entirely self-supporting, assistance should be given to its fund to meet expenses. Sister Alice (who on July 31st completed six months work in Timaru) reported that there were 105 infants and other children on the roll; 297 visits had been paid; 70 babies brought to the office; 15 letters written to country correspondents. Sister Alice wished special note to be taken of the fact that in cases -where she is called in by parents, and no medical man was then in charge, she always intimated to the doctor that she had been called in, and would, subject to his approval, assist the parents. She wished it to be well understood that she desired to have the doctor's approval in every case; and that parents should not suppose'that she took the place of a doctor, an impression -that some of them evidently entertained. Accounts for £l2 'ls lOd were passed for payment, and the. meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair. . The following are the donations above referred to:—Mrs H. Elworthy £5 os, Mr C. S. Fraser £1 Is, Mr F. W Marchant 10s. Miss Shirteliffe 10s, A Friend 10*. The following are the new members ■—Mesdames Newnham. Palmer, Seaward, A. Beck. C. Talbot (Fairview), M. O'Meeghan, Webster. Misses Whitehead. Young, Atkins, Lawrie. Dunlop. Messrs L. B. James, A. Beck, Taylor (LoCren street"), C. G. Snow, and Hume.