PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17469, 1 June 1922, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

ANNUAL EEPOBT. The annual report of the Royal (New Zealand) Society for the Health of Women and Children, to he submitted at the annual meeting next week, makes appreciative reference to the actaono the Government in sending out the Ex pectant Mother Pamphlet to married women throughout Canterbury lhe Society's .nurses were constanty being brought into contact i"th =iat he ra by following up the were n able to learn if the mothers were.in need of advice. A card was enclosed which the mother could fill up wth the minimum of trouble- won the infantile mortality the report, alter stating that the death ratio in Wellington would be reduced in five years to 35 per 1000-a lower rate than obtains in any other city in the worldS avs:-"Apart from the deaths in the first month, the New Zealand infantile mortality rate would be only about I per cent, instead of 5 per cent, as at present. We ought to aim at reducing our total infantile mortality to below 3 per cent. However high the death-rate may be in other countries, there is no valid excuse for our continuing to lose anything above IUUO babies per annum in New Zealand, and it must never be forgotten that every lowering of the baby death-rate means raising the standard of. health for over 25,000 survivors. If Wellington thus aspires to reduce its infantile mortality to 35 per thousand within five years, may not we in Canterbury, favoured everywhere by a supply of morning milk, fairly hope for as great a reduction in less time?" Owing to the necessity for retrenchment the report continues, the nursing staff at the Baby Hospital has been reduced, and in consequence the number of babies admitted has also been reduced. During the year work had progressed favourably "in the country, and three new branches were formed. The report states that the Society is in need of more income, and suggests that parents should become annual subscribers. Babies have been admitted from Wellington, the West Coast, Timaru, and all parts of Canterbury. No premature baby has ever been refused admission. As many as 56 babies have been in the hospital at one time. The balance-sheet for the year ended March 31st shows an expenditure of £1409 18s 4d, which includes nurses' salaries and expenses, £843 6s 3d; purchase of emulsion etc., £l4l 15s 6d; rent, £102; purchase of books, etc., £7B 13s sd. The receipts for the year totalled £1489 Is lOd. which included the Government's subsidy of £500; sale of e-unlsion, £150; subscriptions, £320 18s Bd.