PLUNKET DAY APPEAL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22506, 14 September 1938, Page 3

PLUNKET DAY APPEAL

COMMENDATION BY MAYOR

HOPE FOR GENEROUS SUPPORT

“I sincerely hope that the appeal by this worthy society will be accorded generous support by the citizens of Christchurch.” said the Mayor (Mr R M. Macfarlane), when commending yesterday the work' of the Plunket Society, which to-day will make its annual street appeal in Christchurch. “The infant mortality rate in New Zealand is the lowest in the world, and it is generally recognised that this is directly attributable to the work of the Plunket Society. But if this work is to be carried out to the best advantage it must have the unqualified support of the people of this country There are many young men and women in this city who have gained the immeasurable benefit of sound health as a result of the guidance given by the society: and there are many parents who have had cause to be grateful to the society for the assistance it has unstintedly given them in maternal instruction and the rearing of children. . „ . , “In the past the citizens of Christchurch have shown themselves generous indeed in their support of this and many other causes. By giving freely to-morrow the people of Christchurch will help to maintain a fine cause, and it is my sincere hope that the results of the day will show that in this city there is as keen an appreciation of the society’s work as there is in any other part of the Dominion.”

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT “MOTHERS AND BABIES ARE Priceless assets”

LOW INFANT DEATH-RATE

Mrs J. Cracroft Wilson, president of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Plunket Society, has issued the following message:—

“To every city in New Zealand there comes a day when a special appeal is made for help for the Plunket Society in its work for mothers and babies, and nowhere has this appeal been more generously supported than in our city of Christchurch. "To-day the society again asks for help and support in its work that it may apply common sense scientifically to the feeding and care of mothers ana babies. “We are proud of our beautiful Plunket babies. Healthy bodies tell their tale, and the methods which our nurses practise are based on common sense. “The infant death-rate in New Zealand in 1936-37 was the lowest ever recorded in New Zealand or in any other country—3o.96 a 1000 live births ,-a saving of 32 babies as compared with the previous year. “For this we owe continual gratitude to our great founder, Sir Truby King. The mothers and babies are the priceless ■ assets of the Dominion, and it is to them we look for future progress. “The Plunket Society has been much before the public lately in its appeal for funds for the extension to the Karitane Hospital, but we hope this will not militate against the support we have had for work in the city and suburbs. “The work of the hospital is to help sick babies and tired or inexperienced mothers, but the work of the Plunket nurses is to keep well babies well. ‘A babe in a house is a well-spring of joy’—but it must be a healthy bab© and it is in order that they may be kept well that we earnestly ask for the generous help of the Christchurch people to-day.’’