PATEA PLUNKET SOCIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 116, 19 May 1939, Page 2

PATEA PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING HELD Over one hundred attended the annua.' meeting of the Palea Plunket Society on Tuesday evening, inc.udin* representatives from all sub-branches and Hawera. Lovely sj.icys were presented to the presfrieni, Mrs. R. W. Haddon, the secretary, Mrs. L. Honeyfield, and Miss Ogden, senior Plunket nurse, and a buttonhole to Mr. H. G. Dickie, who presided. The president said it was a great pleasure to welcome so many, especially sub-branch representatives and the Hawera members. She specially welcomed Mr. Dickie and' Miss Ogden, the senior Plunket nurse, j who had been abroad for four years j studying mothercraft. She had now | been appointed to take charge of the I centenary Plunket rooms. The president referred to Founders’ Day, May 15, and the object of hav- 1 ing some memorial to Sir Truby King’s work on this day. Referring to the report, the number of visits had decreased on the previous Near, said the president, but there .were 127 new babies as against 101. She moved that the work of Miss G. .Tompkins, who was away on extended leave, should be placed on record. Miss I Tomkins had been a fine Plunket nurse and her work had endeared her to all. i Mr. Dickie said he liked presiding jat such a flourishing institution as the Patea Plunket Society. The objective of £5OOO for the Sir Truby King Memorial was quite a small amount for the whole of New Zealand considering the benefits that accrued since Sir Truby commenced the movement. Several speakers spoke in complimentary words on the balance-sheet and report. i The 22nd. annual report stated that mothers and babies have continued to ! visit the Plunket nurse in large numj hers. There was still room for improvement in the number of children ol pre-school age who attend the rooms. A profit, of £9O had been realised at the fete held in the Domain and many thanks were due to the helpers on that, occasion. Membership had increased, but owing to increased costs in many directions Hie jyear’s workings showed a small deficit: tin addition the Borough Council will | not be making the usual donation of £lO this year. I The nurse’s report showed a lota] iof 5918 visits to the Plunket rooms ’at headquarters and out-stations. | 'There was a total of 514 babies and I , children under supervision. The] I nurse’s report continued as follows:] •"The total number of new babies being i much lower in out-stations this year, I I has, in consequence, reduced the number of visits to the Plunket rooms, .while an epidemic of measles greatly ’affected the attendance of older children. During Ihe year several infants I have been admitted to the Karitane ! Stewart Home at Wanganui and returned to their homes greatly benefited. I have already stressed in the |annual reports of our sub-branch .he | urgent need for supervision of all iNOung children in the pre-school period] | —that is. from toddling stage to five] years of age. So many mothers who [have been guided by Plunket nurses! I throughout baby's first year have I failed to brir* their children regularly to the Plunket rooms during the next 'four years. The society is anxious to i(o-operate with the school medical [officers and dental clinic. By regular [attendance defects may be discovered 'early, dietic requirements adjusted,] thus guarding against, malnutrition.” (The nurse then thanked the many I friends who had helped her in her! work. The death of Mr. Warren, a life ! member of the branch was recorded • with deep regret. The excellent year’s work of the j sub-branch was commented upon and the purchase of a car for the use of the nurse was reported as being at present before the committee. Mrs. Haddow and Mrs. L. Honeyfield wore- delegates to the conference in Wellington in November. Tn conclusion, thanks were extended to all those who had helped in any way during the year. Election of officers resulted: President. Mrs. R. W. Haddow; honorary vice-presidents, Mesdames S. C. McRae and W. F. Sheild; vice-presidents, Mesdames R. Hunger, T. E. Roberts, D. Roots. A. Pearce, and presidents of sub-branches; general committee. Mesdames L. Austin. L. T. Adams. T. Anderson, j. N. Anderson, F. Bostock, G. Broker, C. P. Bates. R. Honeyfield, B. Hazeltine, J. R. Hunger, I. Jones, R. Mayo. C. S. Marlin, G. Macken, T. Nelson, G. Pettigrew. J. Petersen; T. E. Roberts. D. Roots, R. M. Stevens. A. B. Smiles. J. Wynne, G. Francis, S. Priest, Allen. Miss Harris: advisory board. Dr. Simmons. Rev. E. F. Farr, Messrs E. F. Hemingway, F. Ramsbottom, D. Roots, T. E. Roberts. L. Austin. W. F. Sheild. R. W. Haddon. G. Pettigrew. I. Jones. J. N. Anderson; hon. solicitor, Mr. T. E. Roberts; hon. secretary and treasurer. Mrs. L. Honeyfield; hon. auditors, Messrs. Pettigrew and Sheild. A welcome was extended to the new Plunket nurse. Miss M. Grieve. After lengthy discussion, a recommendation carried was that the incoming committee consider the purchase of a car for the use of the nurse in the Plunket work. Miss Ogden, in her address, spoke of the progress of Plunket. work in overseas countries, especially in England. She commended Patea on its fine Plunket rooms. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Dickie for presiding and Miss Ogdon for her address. , Prior to the committee serving sup- ; per, vocal items were given by Miss R. ] Mawhinney and Mrs. T. Cardiff. I Numerous apologies were received.