PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17704, 7 May 1929, Page 8

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

HAMILTON AND FRANKTON GOOD PROGRESS DURING YEAR. ANNUAL MEETING ON FRIDAY. Good progress recorded in the report of the Hamilton branch of the Plunket Society, to be presented at the annual meeting next Friday. The chief aim of the society is to persuade and help mothers lo suckle their own babies, and the nurses report that more of the babies coming under their notice are fed in the natural way. At the Hamilton centre the number of babie3 brought to the rooms during the year was 5142, against 3770 in the previous 12 months; the number of older children increased from 641 to 893 and the visits to homes increased from 605 to 785. At Frankton 2253 babies visited the office and 146 older children, while visits to homes numbered 689. Generous support has been given to the society, but it is not easy to raise the large amount.required- The president, Mrs C- H. Holloway, in her annual report, urges the need for more annual subscribers. She says: “It costs approximately £550 a year to run this branch, so it may be seen that, even with the Government grant of, roughly, a little more than one-third of the nurses’ salaries, a considerable! amount has still to be raised by local effort. In September we held our annual Flower Day, which netted £3l,‘ and in February we combined with theBeautifying Society and ran the Free Fair on the Ferry Bank. This resulted in £134 being added to our income. Wej also have on sale a very comprehen-h>-e cookery-book, compiled for us byMrs A. Ramsay. The price is 2s and we hope to make a substantial sum by* this means- j “ I regret to say that Mrs Melyillel Bell left Hamilton in December last to reside in Hawke’s Bay. Mrs Bell ws.s one of the most enthusiastic pioneers of plunket work in Hamilton and for ten years her energy never flagged. Her departure is a great loss to our branchi and her place will be very hard to All. During the year our hon. secretary, Mrs Bisley, was compelled to resign office and her place has since been very ably] filled by Mrs Burrell. }

Staff “and Helpers. “In February Nurse MacDonald resigned and we were lucky in securing the services of Miss Lowe at the Hamilton rooms. We were very sorry indeed to lose Miss MacDonald; her cheery disposition, keen interest and tireless energy made her beloved ofj both, committee and mothers. “in October last Miss Patrick, Director of Plunket Nursing, held a ; nurses’ conference in Hamilton. Nurses from surrounding centres attended and and discussed matters of local interest' to plunket nursing. "We have again to thank Misses Eila Guy, Cecille Ohitty, Marjory Greville, Ann Gilfllian, Adri Holloway, Kath.j Oliver and Erina Ward for their val-1 uable help to nurses by assisting oaej afternoon a week at the rooms. I "This year Nurse Hooker instructed J and examined many Girl Guides in j Hamilton and Cambridge, and all were' successful in obtaining passes. j "Once more I wish to record our great appreciation of the work and untiring devotion of our nurses. In conclusion, w r e wish to thank the Waikato Times, our Advisory Board, and Mr R. English for their unfailing support-" j Encouraging Features. ' Nurse Kay MacDonald, reporting on the work at Hamilton, says the most encouraging features were that the number of new babies that are breastfed is increasing and that more mothers are coming for advice before the babies are put irretrievably on artificial food. This makes it possible to keep more babies partly on the mother’s milk. A large proportion of the babies who are artificially fed when first seen by the nurse are boarded-out children whose guardians have been sent to the Plunket nurse by the Child Welfar* Officer. Nurse MacDonald expresses warm appreciation of the assistance of the voluntary workers who gave one afternoon a week to help in the rooms. During the past year there has been an increase in the number of country mothers seeking advice by letter. Karilac for the making of humanised milk has been sent to many of them by post. Work at FranktonNurse C. Hooker, of Frankton, also reports satisfactory progress. The majority of new babies brought to the Frankton room have been naturally fed. There have been several cases of summer sickness, measles and bronchitis, but all have responded to treatment. Nurse Hooker further states: “On August 30th I was asked to give a talk to the Frankton Mothers’ Union on Piunket work. This I did and demonstrated by means of charts the difference in the components of various milks, showing the necessity of modifying cow’s milk for the ariflcial feeding of babies. Last month the Annual Plunket picnic was field and proved a great success. The local Girl Guides attended and look charge of the babies and older children, while the mothers enjoyed a free afternoon and uninterrupted tea, also a novel competition.

“My work during the year has been made very pleasant by the consideration of the parents, and especially the members of the committee, and I would ask one and all to accept my grateful appreciation-’’

The financial statement shows an increase in the credit balance from £127 to £228. Apart from the trading accounts (purchases and sales of emulsion, etc.) the chief receipts were:—• Grants from the Government, £270; donations (including proceeds of concerts, bazaars, etc.) £217; matured fixed deposit fund, £100; members’ subscriptions, ISs.