AFTER FORTY YEARS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 28, 14 May 1947, Page 8

AFTER FORTY YEARS

PROGRESS OF PLUNKET SOCIETY RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT Few people now remember the conditions that existed before the late Sir Truby King turned his attention to what was, in New Zealand at that time, the very neglected field of infant welfare. A tragic event at the Seacliff Mental Hospital, of which he was superintendent —the death of an attendant, leaving a young widow with a recently born baby—was, to have, under providence, > wondeful repercussions. • Mrs King did her utmost 'to assist the poor young mother, but was dismayed at the lack of scientific information available on the feeding of babies. She urged her husband, who had been notably successful in rearing and scientifically feeding livestock at the mental hospital farm, to assist her. “Surely,” she said, “babies are more important than animals.” Life of Deduations

From that moment, Dr. King turned his keen mind and ability for research to what was to -become his great life work, a work that won him world-wide and royal recognition. His enquiries into infant nutrition and welfare brought to light shocking conditions of malnutrition and neglect among unfortunate, unwanted babies boarded out with little supervision. The tremendous success of Dr. King’s methods, by which these tiny victims were restored to health, attracted the band of devoted and generous friends whose allegiance never wavered. They’ with him, founded in Dunedin on May 14, 1907, the Society that was to achieve so much. The patronage and assistance of the Governor, Lord Plunket, arid his wife, was a big help to early success. The Plunket movement spread rapidly throughout New Zealand.

A Modest Start The modest beginnings are recorded in the first Annual Report: three branches, employing three nurses, and one small hospital. Contrast that with the 1946 report, which shows an organisation with 75 branches and 340 sub-braliches, employing 159 nurses, exclusive of the staffs of its six Karitane Hospitals. This.is the growth of 40 years, despite the handicap' of two world wars and a world depression. Infant Mortality

No one in the Plunket Society would claim that its efforts have been the only factor in the reduction of the .infant death rate, which in 1907 was 80 to every 1000 births. But it is instructive to note that as the Society .spread, and the number of its trained nurses increased, the yearly loss of life decreased, until lastly ear th'e world record low level was reached with a European infant mortality rate in New Zealand of 25.35 deaths per 1.000 live births. This will evoke widespread interest and applause and reflects the attention being directed by the Health Department, the Medical School, Hospital Boards, and not least, the Plunket Society, to this important matter. If the infant death rate had remained at the level of the early years of this country 2000 more babies would have died last year than were actually lost. A Notable Example

For nearly 30 years, the wise counsel and dauntless energy of Sir Truby. King, inspired the work of the Plunket Society. Have those who inherited from him such a wonderful legacy been worthy of their trust? Have they moved with a changing world, and kept abreast, as he did, with the times? These are the records since his death in 1938. At that time there were 68 branches employing 128 nurses. Today there are 77 branches employing 160 nurses. The hospitals have not increased in numbers, but have in size. Then, 1273 infants and 621 mothers were accommodated yearly; in 1947, 1826 babies and 940 mothers were admitted. Future Expansion' A word on the Society’s hopes for the future. It is planned to expand the nursing service when nurses are available, and increase hospital accommodation. New Plunket Rooms are contemplated in many areas; with it is hoped, flats for nurses in areas where accommodation is difficult to obtain. Expansion means increased expenditure, but experience has been that wider service brings wider public support. The Society is'grateful for the substantial increased subsidy recently granted by' the Government in recognition of rising costs, particulai-ly in salary increases. The Society is proud of the confidence placed in it by successive Governments. Re-Dedication The Plunket Committees raise an-

nually throughout New Zealand more than £50,000 to maintain their work. This is not done without “toil and sweat,” in a very real conviction of the value of the service rendered to the mother and baby in particular, and the nation in general. As it enters its fifth ; decade, the Plunket Society dedicates itself again to the work of Sir Truby King.| That active mind, that indomitable energy in a frail body, that great fighter has passed away, but his spirit lives on in the Society that he founded.* (Extracts from talk given by Mrs James Begg, Dominion President, Plunket Society).