PLUNKET SOCIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 168, 20 July 1935, Page 8

PLUNKET SOCIETY

PROVINCIAL. CONFERENCE | . I GATHERING IN WANGANUI. OPE.XEb BY THE iIAYtIR. Delegates from branches as far afield as New Plymouth. Palmerston North, Taihapc und Ohakune, were present at the provincial conference of the Blunket Society held in Wanganui yesterday, which was officially opened b\ . the Mayor(Mr. W. J. Rogers). I.adv . Sidey, acting president of the Domiri- . ion Council was in attendance and the chair was occupied by Airs. IL D. , Robertson, president of the Wanganui branch. Dr. Martin Tweed, medical adviser to the society. Miss Hoddinott, ( Dominion secretary and Miss Fitzgib- ( bon, nursing adviser, were present. The prneipal business of the conference was to elect three members to the central council, one to represent the hospital district, one to represent the three-nurse branch, ami one to repre- ' sent tho one-jiurse branch. Bound by the constitution of the ! society, the conference had to resolve i itself into a round-table discussion of various problems confronting a body, which, founded on altruistic motives, - and with voluntary service as its. outi standing ideal, had tu seek wavs and • means of financing its undertakings according to business ethics and at the same time preserve the ideals of th? founder, {Sir Truby King. AVclcoming the Mayor. Mrs. Robertson said that this was the second occasion the society had called upon him to open a conference of that, type, and the fact, might lead him to believe that the society intended to demand a great deal of his sympathy and assistance. ‘‘And we do intend* that,” Mrs. Robertson added, ‘‘for we want the sympathy and co-operation of yourself and your council. AVo are concerned with building of strong, ablebodied citizens who. in the future, wa ‘ hope will'bo well fitted to occupy the i chairs which, through your courtesy and that of the City Council of Wan- ■ ganui, we arc occupying this morning.” (Applause). •’it is indeed a pleasure, on behalf of the city, to extend a welcome, to any who are engaged in such an important work affecting thp young people of tho Dominion,” said Mr. Rogers. . . .“Al- ■ though man’s supremacy is being challenged I have been one. who, for years, has welcomed the ever-increasing activ- . ity of the ladies in the development of the moral and physical well-being of the young life of the Dominion. While I can’t say that men do not make mistakes, women have shown their I ability to take their places in public i affairs, even. if. I'arliainent, and I am ; sure we are all glad al the fact that - they arfi able to do that. ... In deelar- . ing this conference officially open, I . hope it will be a happy one, and that l it will enable you to go away inspired to further activity. Conferences are of incalculable value because they permit the exchange and consolation of ideas.” (Applause). Lady Sidey thanked the delegates and others present for the welcome accorded her and the officers of the Dominion body. It was a long time since she had visited Wanganui and she was surprised at the growth the city had made. It was really a beautiful city and the countryside was so restful and green. “It was a glorious afternoon when we travelled up, and we enjoyed it very much. I am very pleased to meet you ah. It in such a good thing for fellow workers to meet and work together. At these provincial conferences where there can be discussions of matters which require explanations. It facilitates the work of the society and enables closer co-operation to be maintained between the Dominion council and the various branches and sub-branches. ” Lady Sidey explained that from .1907 to .1917 the executive acted for the whole of the society. In 1917 the fir.-l constitution providing for a council was made, but representation on that became so eum.bersome that new rules had to be drawn up. These provided ' for provincial conferences, the first of which was held in 1932-33. Prior to that there had been conferences at Auckland and Canterbury, but they . were only formal gatherings held to stimulate the work of the branches in , those areas. In .1934, at the general conference, a sub-committee was set up , to go into the arranging of groups. The work of that sub comm't tee re- ' suited in six groups being cMnbliaLbJ instead of five. There was an addition to the North Island. That now results in 18 members of the council being elected by the provincial groups. A provincial conference could not for- • ward remits to the general conference, but was held for the purpose of discussion. If there were any questions delegates wanted to ask, the officers of the . council were present to ask them. Lady Sidey referred to the presence of the president of the IDoniinion Council (Mrs. McGeorge) in England. “She is having a wonderful time’’ Latly Sidey stated, “and was honoured by having a seat at the Jubilee celebrations and other privileges. AVhat 1 am hoping, though, is that she will soon return. She has everything al her ‘ fingertips mid is very capable, and ’ wise, too."’ The society had teen interested in the visit of Dr. Kagavva to New Zea • land. He ha.l cuuiu to take nute-, on child welfare and it was p!e:i>ing to . kow that Japan wa interesting il.'cil , in lhe problem. Speaking of her recent v isil lo Australia. Lady Sidev said that ( Sir 'l’ruliy King's name was being per petuated in tho various urgaiii.-atioiis which were being carried oi. over the Tasman. It was felt there that as Sir Truby King had been the founder of the movement he was entitled •<> recog nifion such as was given by the fact th;it a Phinket amoiu was known in Au> r tralia as a Sir Truby King Ge.lire. In : Sydney they had a radio . lini;* known . as the Sir Truby King, .*’U E Baby Craft Clinic, It was doing very wonderful w ink “Ot behalf <i lhe executive council I wish the provincial (•►inference every success,” Lail} SiiV'.- concluded. ■ Applause The, foliow'.ng delegate* were preWangauiii: Mesdames H. 1). Kobeit<oii A. Crawford. T. Warnock and IL U. Jenkin-. New J’i vmout h. Mi-. FranklinWhile. ! Paten. • Mesdames Haddow and j Honeylield. Marton. Mi Sladde’i. x Palmerston North. Mesdames W. • Trueman and S. \ustiii. Taihapc.— Mrs. de Lautour. 1 Stratford. - Mesdames Hugo ami Masters. ' opunnke. Mesdames Stevenson and The following delegates to the tea 'I tral 4' t >unuil were elected: Mrs. H. D. ' Robertson (Wanganui). representing '• the hospital district. Mrs. Walter AVess ton (New Plymouth), representing the three nurse branch, and Mrs. R. \A

Hadduw (Paten), tepreseuting the oneuurse branch. The first two were elected automatically, and a ballot elected Mrs. Haddow from th ten nominees lo represent the one nurse branch. Tn addition to tne delegates the following representatives of the brnnchen were in attendance:— Marton.— Mesdames Stcveus, Led in gham, Aliss Cook. New Plymouth.—Mrs. AValter AA’e»tou. Palea. —Mesdames Roots. Horner, Austin, Roberts and Hunger. Foxton.— Mesdames Barron, Ogilvie, ; Thaiu and Baikes, Stratford.— Mn. Irwin. Opunakc.—Mesdames Laing and Coa-jp . galon. /