THE Thames Star. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 1923. SAVE THE BABIES!

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 159224, 13 September 1923, Page 4

THE Thames Star.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 1923. SAVE THE BABIES!

“With malice towards none, with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.”— Lincoln.

A project, set afoot to help the mothers and save the babies, must appeal to all citizens who wish to see a healthy, happy verile race. Much has been done in the direction indicated, throughout New Zealand, especially in the main centres of the South Island, under the direction of Dr. Truby King the king of the child welfare movement.

The work of the Plunket Society throughout New Zealand is too well known to require detailing, especially in view of the fact that a branch of the organisation has recently been established in our district ;and the splendid work being done brings forcefully home to us what a boon it is. In Dunedin, where the original Karitane Hospital was established some 16 years ago, and where at present all our nurses are trained, those diseases which have always proved most destructive .of Infant life have been practically stamped out, as proved by the wonderful figures relating to infantile mortality in that centre.

It is surely a reproach to Auckland the largest provincial ' district in the Dominion, both with respect to population, area and value that we should be without an up-to-date institution for the special treatment of infants ; the steps now being taken should remove that reproach, and place this part of the Dominion in the fore-front of every aspect, of i child welfare.

People of Thames are directly interested in the proposed Karitane Hospital, about to he established at Auckland, seeing it is to be a provincial institution .It will be available over Auckland district and save for the treatment of babies from all mothers with sick babies requiring special treatment, the heavy expense and risk of travel while in delicate health, as is now the ease with Karitane Hospitals as far distant as Christchurch and Dunedin.

The Hospital will be largely dependent upon voluntary subscription for its upkeep; therefore, it is the duty to all to give according to their means —be the amount small or large —and we trust there will be a general and ready response to the appeal. Nor convenience donations may be handed in at the Borough Council Office.