“SAVE THE BABIES” WEEK.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1436, 1 November 1917, Page 30

“SAVE THE BABIES” WEEK.

“Save the Babies” week (October 28 to November 2) is a campaign organised by the Plunket Society with a twofold purpose: — (1) To give, the mothers and fathers of the community an opportunity of learnng the most important facts with regard to the care of the baby. (2) To bring home to the community a knowledge of the facts regarding the needless deaths of its babies and a realisation of the ways in which it must protect them. A “baby week” should be a community campaign. Each person in the community should feel that he or she has a part in it. Publicity is given to the following tcicts * — That nearly 300,000 babies will be born in New Zealand in the next 10 years. That their health and fitness depend mainly on the health and knowledge of their parents. That nearly 1500 babies die every year in New Zealand. That it is estimated by leading authorities that at least as many die during the nine months before birth. That most of this sacrifice of li f e is preventable and must be prevented. That the ignorance and carelessness wlrch sacrifice so much life entail an even greater wrong to the nat on in the general impairment of health and vigour affecting more cr less the whole of the rising generation. That the loss of life in the var has made every baby’s life doubly precious. That everyone can help to save the babies. That fewer babies are being born in the Dominion than prev’ously. That decrease in population means decrease in power. That many thousands of women are handicapped for life by insufficient care and knowledge during their child-bearing period.

Coming away from a performance of “The Pink Lady,” says an Australian writer, playgoers can be frequently heard referring to “Pickwick.” The reference is to Phil Smith’s similarity in “make-up” as Dondidier in “The Pink Lady” to Dickens’ immortal character, as the description of him goes. Mr. Smith’s “make-up,” clever as it is, is not the only outstanding feature of his characterisation. His performance is said to be altogether delightful and thoroughly “in the picture” all the time. It is considered one of the best performances he has ever given.