SAVING THE BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19785, 8 March 1927, Page 9

SAVING THE BABIES

DR. TRUBY KING’S WORK DUCHESS OPENS NEW KARITANE HOME. (Per Press Association.) . WELLINGTON, March 7. In the presence of a distinguished gathering Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York to-day opened the new Truby King Karitane Home on Melrose Heights. With the weather at its best, it was a picturesque scene, and the Duchess was deeply impressed with all she saw. Her Royal Highness was received by Sir Truby King, Lady Hosking, and Mr S. Kirkcnldio (chairman of the citizens’ committee), and a number of Karitane nurses formed a fitting guard of honour Those piesent included the Chief Juslice (Sir Charles Skerrett), Sir Frederick Chapman, the Hon. G. J. Anderson. the Hon. A. D. McLeod, the H >n, O. J. Hawken, the Hon. K. S. Williams,

the Hon. R. F. Bollard, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, the Hon. J. A. Young (Min ister of Health), the Hon. R. A. Wright, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, the Mayor (Mr C. J. B. Norwood), Mr A. Gray, K.C., Mr M. Myers, K.C., and many others. Addressing Her Royal Highness and expressing the citizens’ pleasure on her consenting to open the institution, Mr Kirkcaldic said: ‘‘Among the many splendid organisations we have to-day, whose aim and ideal it is to further the health and prosperity of the nation, the Plunkct Society (founded by Sir Truby King and his wife) must surely rank as a great national asset. The* building which we will presently ask Yonr Royal Highness to declare open has been designed for the purpose of affording adequate accommodation for those

women who desire to train and qualify as Karitane nurses on the lines laid down by Sir Truby King. A National Matter. “It is pleasing to be able to inform you that the whole of the accommodation for trainees will be immediately availed of, and the long list of aspirants for training conclusively proves the interest that the young women of this Dominion are taking in this important end very necessary profession “It is true that ‘the race marches on the feet of little children,’ and Sir Truby King, recognising this, aimed at tin* highest point of national haopinrss and prosperity when he made the esteblisnment and maintenance of the health of mother and child his life’s work. It is row 20 years since Dr. Truby King found tlnee tiny babies neglected and dying in a dark lean-to attached to a licensed home for the care of infants lin Dunedin. His wife willingly accept* .cd the responsibility of their care, and her devoted mothering and the doctor’s skih won life and eventually healt.’i for

those unfortunate little ones. They throve under the care and supervision of the doctor, and so began one of the finest societies of the world. “To provide the necessary number of nurses required, the Karitane Hospitals in New Zealand have been established to afford the adequate training of these nurses. The generosity and enthusiasm of Sir Truby King has mainly made this possible, for it is he who, when it became finally essential that a proper home be built in Wellington, came forward at once with the offer of this splendid site. Some idea of the tremendous growth of this work may be gauged from the fact that during the year ending March 1927, 21,577 visits were paid by mothers to Plunket branches, and 18,535 babies came under the care of the nurses of the Plunket Society. “I have now pleasure in handing you this gold key, which has been presented by the contractors for the building, and to ask you to turn the lock and declare the building open. Having done so I would ask you to kindly release the flag which covers the stone recording the fact that this building was opened on Alarch 7, 1927, by Your Royal Highness. ’ ’

Her Royal Highness then formally declared the homo opened and express- . cd her pleasure at being asked to perr form the ceremony, Duchess Interested. In a few brief words to Sir Truby 1 King she complimented him on his r great work. The Duchess then opened i* the main door with a gold key. The official party made a tour of in- , spection of the home, Her Royal High- * ness again complimenting Sir Truby and ’ • the members of the committee on tho ’ : valuable work which had been accoml plished in so short a time. The Duch- ■ ess also consented to make a brief ap- * pearance on the balcony overlooking the j Heads, and from this point she was given a rousing reception by the large ■ crowd. This she graciously acknow

ledged. A visit was then paid to Sir Trubv King’s home for children, where the Duchess was able to see something of the work being accomplished. She visited one of the classes at work and engaged in conversation with the children for a few minutes, showing a keen interest in their .work. As she left the home the Duchess was again hailed with joy by the large crowd which lined the road.