PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 4

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Resignation of Director Discussed. CONFERENCE OPENED. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, February 22. Delegates from branches of the Plunket Society throughout New Zealand were present at the Early Settlers’ Hall this morning to attend a conference called to discuss the position which had arisen as the result of the acceptance of the resignation of Miss Pattrick, director of Plunket nursing. The business of the conference was set out in a circular distributed among those present as follows: (1) To consider (and pass such resolutions as may be deemed necessary by conference in matter of) Miss Pattrick’s vacation of the office of director of Plunket nursing; (2) to consider (and if though fit to pass) a resolution that the annual general conference provided for by Rule 42 be resumed, the first such conference to be held in July, 1934. Mrs M’George (president) was in the chair. She extended to the delegates and the other members of the society who were attending the conference a very cordial welcome to Duntdin. It was her earnest hope, she said, that the proceedings would have the effect of promoting that unity of purpose and personal harmony without which they could not hope to achieve the ideals of the founder and the late Lady King for which the society stood. Mi£s Pattrick Invited. Mr Fel (Nelson* said he would like to know if Miss Pattrick had been invited to be present when the statements of the council were made (applause). He did not know whether Miss Pattrick was in the room or not, but he thought it only fair that she should be invited to be present when those statements were made. He moved that Miss Pattrick be invited to be present at that portion of the conference dealing with the statements of the councif in reference to her retirement, and that she later be given an opportunity of replying to those statements. Mrs M’George said that Miss Pattrick was advised that she could be present at the conference and take part in it. The president then adjourned the conference till the arrival ,of Miss Pattrick. Welfare of Society. Mrs Cracroft Wilson (Christchurch) said it would be a disgrace if anything happened to the Plunket Society. Reference had been made to the fact that the former Director of Plunket Nursing had been unfairly treated by the council of the society. She desired to give some facts concerning the treatment of the director during a period of years, and she thought they would consider that the treatment had been generous. She then read a statement which had been made by their late president. Mrs Johnstone, when addressing a meeting of the central council at Welling ton in November, 1930, which stated, inter alia: “Miss Pattrick has conveyed to Mrs M’George and myself the fact that she will not be able to carry on her work as hitherto, although she says she has had no treatment beyond freedom from work and responsibility since January last. Her medical advisers have given her no assurance that there will be no recurrence of her illness, and that to follow their advice she must be relieved of a considerable part of her work and must at no time be subjected to exposure to cold. As everyone knows this would be impossible if she is Id continue the work which necessitates travelling in all parts of New Zealand at all seasons of the year. She states that it might be necessary to take a lesser position. “At the first meeting of the central council in Wellington after her departure for England she was granted an allowance of £250 during the twelve months’ leave, this being the society’s share of her salary, as an application for a Government grant of the same amount could be made in the circumstances. In April, 1930, she applied for and was granted a further extension of leave, and returned to duty on October 22. Consideration Qiven. Mrs Cracroft Wilson said that they would see from the above that consideration had been given to Miss Pattrick in the past. Could anyone say that that consideration had not been generous ? Mrs Harding (Dargaville) said she desired to make it clear what attitude the Dominion Council proposed to take with regard to the conference and matters which had been requisitioned by two important branches for discussion. “We have no intention of making any charges whatever against Miss Pattrick,” said Mrs Harding. After other speakers had been heard, Mr Fell moved “ That this conference gives Miss Pattrick an opportunity of now replying to anything she desires to reply to.” This was agreed to. Miss Pattrick’s Statement. Miss Pattrick said that during her seventeen years’ service her primary and fundamental concern had always been the wellbeing of the society. Secondly, although she had never received any specific definition of her duties as Director of Plunket Nursing until August or Septemoer, 1932, she had always regarded herself as “being responsible to the council for the efficiency of the nursing service, and she had never considered it to be part of her duty or her responsibility to take part in the purely administrative side of the work. She utterly repudiated any suggestion of disloyalty or undermining and pulling against the executive. The mere suggestion that she had been guilty of such conduct had been a matter of great sorrow to her. Resolution Carried. The Minister of Health read out a resolution which, he thought, would meet the wishes cl the conference, and this was carried afte r some discussion that was productive of an alteration to the fourth clause. The resolution was as follows; (1) That the loyalty of Miss Pattrick to the society is unquestioned. (2) That her professional capacity is recognised and unquestioned. (3) That the council expresses its regret if, contrary to its intention the manner of asking for her resignation caused her pain. (4) That she be asked to continue her work to giv* to her successor the benefit of her experience during the next six months and that the financial terms already aa~eed upon apply at I' the end of six months (5) That all matters affecti«w the rules and administration of the .society be considered as special subject for itmits to the next 'conference in Wellington.”