THE PLUNKET NURSE

Wairarapa Age, 19 March 1920, Page 2

THE PLUNKET NURSE

AN INTERESTING CHAT. There are some workers in tHe community who go about doing good in a quiet, unobtrusive way. They do not seek notoriety, and the results oi their efforts, and the knowledge that thfcy are doing good, suffices them. Among this class of worker is the Plunket Nurse. How often do. we see her puahing along on her bicycle, calling on the mothers and infants untter her care, on a mid-summer's day, 01 in the middle of winter, and i.ttloj think of the good work she is doing.: Her life is one of self-sacrifice, and her aim in life a noble one. Too often wo arc apt to forget these matters, and the good woman, whose advice, and what is more—practical help —is always there for the distressed mother. This class of work never looms largely in the public eye, but nevertheless it is there, steadily gressing in our midst, caring for what is most precious at the present time in our national life—His Majesty the Baby. It may be asked: "What are the duties of one so designated"?" The Plunket Nurse in the active agent or the Society for Promoting the Health of Women and Children. To her everlasting credit be it said, this Society was instituted by • Her Excellency Lady Plunket, who \yas an ardent advocate for the betterment of women and children, during her stay in New Zealand. The terrible toll levied t»y death on child life aroused the sympathies of many people in all stations; of life, and inquiry proved that a great deal of this was to a certain j extent preventable. In the glorious j heritage of motherhood all women are sisters. As Coleridge observes —"A mother is a mother still—the holiest thing alive." Want ot knowledge on the part of many mothers, in regards to the feeding and caring of their children, has always been a large contributing factor to the death-rate in 81l countries, and it is against ignorance—want of knowledge in clpld-j rearing—that the Plunket Society"; wages battle in its quiet and unob-. trusive way. In connection with this, work, in fact since its inception, no man has taken a greater part than Dr. Truby King. He is a man who has been bitterly criticised, but the argument against his crusade has been, settled for all time by the great tribut paid him by Imperial Government, who "borrowod" him }Tom New Zealand, in connection with its work for the betterment of mothers. The Imperial authorities seemed loth to part with him, and his stay in England was considerably longer than at first anticipated. In each of the principal towns in New Zealand the Society has stationed a nurse. Each year the number has increased, until now the Society has forty-four visiting nurses In the principal towns, whom, of course, visit the smaller centres. And as each year has seen the Plunket Sisterhood grow, so has the . knowledge of its good work and splendid results Increased, as letters from all parts of the world to the Society testify. As in other humanitarian matters New Zealand has led the world in the work of saving the babies, and we should feel justly proud. We, as a young country, had not to Buch a great extent, to fight down "the prejudices that exist in older lands. Only a few weeks ago we hada' visit from Dr. Caroline Giesel, who re-, marked upon the wonderful Plunket system. America is much more backward, and the doctor was collecting data in New Zealand to / take back with her to the States.

An "Age" reporter had the pleasure yesterday of a chat with Nurse Every, who has recently arrived in Masterton to take up her duties with, the local branch of,the P'luhket Society. In answer to " a question the" Nurse stated that her district embraced Carterton, and it was also her intention to shortly visit Featherston. regularly. The Nurse has already received enquiries from all parts of the Wairarapa, and on the occasion of the rest tent at the recent Masterton ! show was able to meet a number of the mothers. Nurse ' Every stressed the importance of the rest tents at such large public gatherings, j "We : have held them for a number of 'years in the South," she said, "and found them most successful, as it brings us so intimately in touch with the mothers." The Nurse also stated that a large number of mothers who come into town are not acquainted with the Plunket room in Masterton. It is very nicely fitted up, indeed, with a comfortable sofa on which any mother might rest, and there, are also cradles for the little ones, as well as a bath, and gas conveniences for heating milk, etc. This comfortable room should be brought under the notice of all mothers, for many doubtless would be pleased to know of such a place, instead of tramping the streets, 'as is often the case.