SAVING THE BABIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 47, 14 August 1939, Page 4

SAVING THE BABIES

A WORD in recognition of the Plunket Society, ancl the vital work it is carrying out. Here in Whakatane we have a branch of an organisation which is pledged to the furtherance of the greatest- humanitarian work ever placed at the service of mankind. 'The PlunkcJt Society stands guardian at the very font of life, and its slogan "Save the Babies'" bears with it the highest ideals and ethics of the Christian objective. Initiated and fostered by that great champion of child welfare the late Dr Truby King, the Plunket system, has raised the infant mortality of the Dominion, from one of the world's worst, to a place in the foremost ranks. The figures of survival, are now New Zealand's pride, and the envy of the whole world. However much they endeavoured to x)iO so, the people of this Dominion could never, even if they tried a million years, fully repay the debt they owe to the Plunket Society, the organisation whose only work aims at the welfare of the babies. It is rather surprising in view of the foregoing to find so little interest in this vital undertaking, branches of which exist throughout the country, quietly and unostentatiously carrying on the work which means life blood to the Dominion. Apart from those actually in touch with it, and associated with its administration, it is hard to find a,ny who fully understood its fundamentals. Even the average mother, so grateful for the assistance given during' her infants delicate stages, has a short memory and quickly becomes apathetic and disinterested. This, if it could only be realised is a slur upon the public-spiritedness of the town. An awakening of the public conscience is needed, to lend at least a little encouragement to that small band of workers who man the ship year after year and carry on uncomplainingly in a task which demands careful administration, appeals to the public, and gratuitous service the. year round. To-morrow afternoon, the local branch of the Plunket Society will hold its annual meeting in the Parish Hall at 2.30 p.m. It is particularly desirable that those who have made use of the Society and the free service it provides will not forget to show their interest in tangible form by attending and lending the institution the warm and hearty encouragement it so richly deserves .