ANNUAL PLUNKET MEETING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 07, Issue 93, 25 July 1944, Page 4

ANNUAL PLUNKET MEETING

TO-MORROW sees the annual meeting of the Whakatane sub-branch of the Plunket Society take place at 2.30 in the Methodist Hall, King Once again occurs the. opportunity for those who recognise and appreciate the work of this important organisation, to come forward and play their part by way of attending, and if possible of offering their services as an executive member for the forthcoming year. All too' few realise the magnificent record which the Plunket System has had in this Dominion. All too few are acquainted with the fact that prior to its advent the child mortality in New Zealand supplied some of the worst ratio figures in the world. Under Plunket, our country now leads the world in this respect. Throughout the land a network of centres and sub-centres have sprung up promoted by the Dominion executive, and fostered by those willing workers who have come forward year after year in order to maintain the efficiency of the work and to place it at the disposal of all mothers in their respective districts. In Whakatane, the vital work of 'saving the babies' had been carried consistently forward. War difficulties have not hindered the service, nor varied the attendances of the trained nurse who visits the various centres for the purpose of giving expert advice to the mothers. With the dawn of peace, now more discernable than ever before since the outbreak of war, we are faced already with the problems of the peace. Amongst these must inevitably be the question of population, and in the Plunket Society, we have the: only existing organisation which reaches into the homes of future New Zealanders, and de.dicates its services to their health, habits and early training. To-morrow offers to the women of Whakatane a new chance to be of assistance in the vast plan of world reconstruction, and in the moulding of the new nation. Though it may appear to be in only a small &ndL indirect way, to assist forward the Plunket scheme, is indeed performing a vital and most essential service, which aims at a better and healthier race of citizens than in the past.