BUSY PLUNKET YEAR.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16780, 24 April 1926, Page 8

BUSY PLUNKET YEAR.

WORK OF THE HAMILTON SOCIETY TWELVE MONTHS IN REVIEW. A minimum of formal business, comprising a review of the past 12 months, and election of officers for the ensuing year, followed by a fewremarks by Ihe Minister of Health ■Hun. .1. A. Young) comprised Ihe business of the eighth annual meeting of the Hamilton Plunkct Society yesterday. His Worship the Mayor, Mr ,T. B. Fow, presided over quite a fair attendance and remarked that there, were very few societies whoso work was more appreciated, and there were certainly few who deserved greater appreciation from the public than the Plunkel Society. He was pleased a. site had been obtained and that the local society was soon In have a home of its own. The Government had assisted in this direction, and in ihe Washing-up Bill of last session had allowed the sile to be set aside as one suitable for Ihe purpose of a Plunkct Home. He wished lo congratulate the, office-bearers and was pleased lo say that the society's operations were increasing.

The nurse in charge al, the Hood Street rooms (Miss ,T. G. Graham), reported: The. attendance at Hood Street showed that steady progress had gone on during the year. The number of visits of babies and mothers had been 0834, being an increase of JOOO over last year. The nurse said she would like 'lo stress the great need of the proposed new rooms. Anyone who had visited the present rooms realised how very inadequate they were, as 50 or 00 mothers and babies sometimes visited il in one afternoon. A fair amount of correspondence had been received and answered during the year. The following is a summary of the work done: Number of babies, 1152; number of new cases, 24 i; visits to homes, 208; visits to rooms, GS34; number of letters received, 70. Visits at Frankton Rooms. Nurse Underwood reported that the Frankton rooms and and two subbranches were visited weekly, also as relieving nurse for Te Aroha and Te. Awamutu. Visits lo Frankton rooms were 88, Malamala rooms 45, Morrinsvillc rooms 43, Putaruru (spare lime only) 8, Te Aroha rooms 10, To Awamutu 0, Arapuni (20 homes only) 1, the total visits being 201. Number of babies for the year 2222, new cases 152, visits lo homes 315. There had also been 11 demonstrations for the making of humanised milk, 12 for hot and cold stimulations, and eight for babies' bed-making, bathing, dressing and feeding. Many mothers, especially in the country districts, sought advice through letters, 100 letters being received and answered, and 120 telephone enquiries. A resident nurse was appointed from Dunedin for To Aroha, starting duty on June Oth; also resident nurse for fcTe Awamutu, starling duty on August i 2th. Morrinsvillo sub-branch was taken over by Tc Aroha on March 26th, 1020. Arrangements for Malamala were awaiting the result of a conference to be held in Hamilton at an early dale. The total number of mothers and babies visiting the rooms at Frankton was 2147, and subbranches 2422; total 4509. In a review of the past year's work the secretary, Mrs S L>. Yiekery, slated that the society's work hail increased sc- much in Hamilton, they were forced lo bring Nurse Underwood in from Ihe country districts. They notified Matamata and Morrinsvillo in September that they would have lo withdraw the Nurse at the end of the financial year—March 31, 1926. They were pleased to report that the financial rosition was' still satisfactory. The society held their Annual Flower Stall on August 14 and later on their usual Sale of Work.

"Frankton showed a desire to help in June, and an excccllenl concert, organised by Mrs Sanford, brought in JC.2O. We trust that Frankton will make a further effort, tor our support from this quarter lias not been satisfactory. In fact we feci there are a number of people interested in Child Welfare both in Hamilton and Frankton, who are not members of the society, and we appeal to them to let their interest take practical form. In June we had our rest room in the Winter. Show, which was well patronised and appreciated by the mothers, Start of Building Drive. "In December the Borough Council notified us that they had set aside a piece of land, in a beautiful position on the river bank, at the back of the Public Library. On the advice and with the help of our Advisord Board, we started a drive, on March 10, for our building fund. Mr Reynolds, of our Advisory Board, organised the campaign most thoroughly. Our committee, with Ihe help of our Advisory Board, the Botarians, and other willing helpers, made a house-to-house collection in Hamilton, Frankton and surrounding districts and between r.BOO and £OOO was collected. We hoped for £2OOO, and arc rather disappointed With the result. Still, we must just do the best we can with this amount, anil hope to start building almost at once.

"We regret having to report that during the year we lost the services of a valued member, our president, Mrs 11. A. Young, on account of her taking up residence in Chrislchruch. Mrs W. H. Hume was appointed to 1111 the vacancy thus created. We also suffered another loss when our secretary, Mrs E. P. Cowles, resigned, jn January, on account of a trip to England. We wish her a happy holiday. Mrs F. Yickcry was appointed to"illl this vacancy. Our thanks are, due to our Advisory Board for their valuable help during our building campaign; also to the Botarians fur their splendid help, and lo the Waikato Times for. their kind assistance. "Thanks are also due lo the Fanners' Auctioneering Co., for their kindness in lending us a room for our monthly meetings, and also for the invaluable help some of their staff gave us on our Sale Day. Our subscribers list is growing—though perhaps not Quite so fast as it should —ami we hope, that it will soon represent a substantial part of our income. The society's thanks are duo again to our Advisory Board; lo our lion, auditor, Mr It'. English; and to the Press for its unfailing support. Once more we would like to record our great appreciation of Ihe work and untiring devotion of our Nurses." The. reports and balance sheet were adopted. Election of Officers. The following officials were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mrs VV. It. Hume; vice-prescidonts, Mesilames M. Hell, C. 11. Ilolloway, W. M.cNieol, Vere Chilly, I). Hay; Advisory Hoard, Hon. ,1. A. Young, lir. Spencer. Archdeacon !•:. M. Cowie, Messrs T. G. Beynolds, .M. Dell, 11. 11. Clarke, U. I'ari'cr; secretary, Mrs S. U. Yickcry; treasurer, Mrs .1. K. Pago; committee, Mesdames .1. A. Young, Tompkins. A. G. Sanford, lliighsun. K. IJ Stare, P. B. Stewart, A. M. Bisley, A. Beale, E. Brown, C. Boycs, [{. C. Fowler, Mitchell, Ramsay, F. M. Spp.nCContinued at root or next column.)

ccr, Cordon S. Rcid; lion, auditor, j|f it, English; delegates to conference, Hon. and Mrs Young and Mrs M. G. Bell. lion. J. A. Young congratulated Iho society on the results of the year's workings, the finances being in a satisfactory slate. The Minister pointed out that it was not generally known the Government contributed £l2O towards the salary of every Plunket Nurse, £SO being made up from the revenue of the societies, lie thought Ihe society should be able lo increase its membership. Bcferring to preventive ■medicine as distinct from curative medicine, Mr Young said it was essential for everyone to have a sound constitution which gave greater power to work of Ihe society was in the nature of preventive medicine, lo leach people bow lo rare for the child's health and give tin' baby tin' best chance. Xew Zealand has 10-day the lowest inl'anlile dealhrate in the world, but prior to Hie advent of the society, the mortality figures were, on an average wilh Ihose Of other nations. There were many people who owed their lives to-day to the advice given by Ihe Plunket Nurses. Applause.! A vote of Ihanks lo Ihe chairwoman for presiding, and the .Minister for his attendance concluded Ihe proceedings.