CHRISTCHURCH PLUNKET SOCIETY REVIEWS YEAR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27396, 8 July 1954, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH PLUNKET SOCIETY REVIEWS YEAR

NEWS FOR WOMEN

The Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society was faced each year with the task of raising £4500 by voluntary effort, said the president (Mrs Janet Williams) and the honorary treasurer (Mrs J. W. Niven) at the annual meeting of the branch yesterday.

Mrs Williams said the society was expanding, and in consequence its expenses were increasing, but in spite of many money-making efforts on the part of members, jthe income did not increase as much as the expenses. Although the last year had been slightly more successful financially than the previous year, Mrs Williams said, the statement of income and expenditure showed a substantial deficit.

“It may be partly our own fault that opr income is not greater,’’ said Mrs Niven. “I do not think the public realises the great scope of our work and the fact that the necessary income of £4500 annually has to be raised by about 40 voluntary workers.”

Mrs Niven said many people had the mistaken idea that all money raised voluntarily by the branch received a Government subsidy. That was not correct. The Government subsidised the nurses’ salaries, cost of equipment, and the voluntary contributions to' the Karitane Hospital, but not money raised voluntarily by the branch.

The Mayoress (Mrs R. M. Macfarlane), who presided at the meeting, warmly commended the great amount of voluntary work done by members. She suggested that members of Parliament should be shown over the Plunket rooms and the Karitane Hospital, so that they could see for themselves the magnitude of the work being done for the community by the Plunket Society. They might then be moved to grant the society larger subsidies. As an alternative, said Mrs Macfarlane, she thought that the mothers

of babies might be asked to contribute a little more to the society’s funds.

It was mentioned that it cost at least 30s a year to care for each baby attended by the society’s nurses. Mrs Williams, in accepting the office of president, for the third year, thanked members for their loyalty and co-operation; Mrs Arthur Rose, who, Mrs Williams said, had been a tower of strength to her; Mrs J. W. Niven, honorary treasurer; members of the nursing and clerical staffs at the Plunket rooms; and the matron and staff of the Karitane Baby Hospital; the members of the Plunket Mothers’ Clubs; the honorary architect (Mr G. Lucas); and Mr C. Hart, who had agreed to take over Mr Lucas’s duties temporarily. After the business meeting, an address on some of her experiences in New Delhi was given by Miss E. KentJohnston, matron of St. George’s Hospital. Election of Officers Officers were elected as follows: President, Mrs J. Williams; vicepresidents, Mrs A. Rose (senior vicepresident), Mesdames R. M. Macfarlane, N. M. Peryer, L. Roberts, A. Bunz, L. Sisson, J. F. B. Kerr, C. Holstein; active members of committee, Mesdames A. Bunz, G. Basan, E. J. Cordner, T. Darby, E. Fairclough, M. K. Gray, O. Garrett, P. G. Greenwood, A. H. Hammett, W. M. Cleland, F. A. Harris, C. L, Hardie, J. Healey, Stewart Hunter, R. L. Jacobsen, A. E. Kincaid, E. Lyons, N. McGillivray, R. M. Macfarlane, Elliot Myers, J. WNiven, R. H. Nottingham, W. Pryce. C. Thomas, N. Peryer, A. Rose, S. A. Readman, L. Roberts, G. Simpson, N. Steven, H. R. Smith, R. G. Wolff, J. L. Will, Janet Williams, and M. McLaughlan. Honorary committee, Mesdames M. H. Godby, Cecil Wood, P. H. Wood, A. C. McKillop, S. W. Binns, and W. G. Scannell; advisory board, Messrs M. H. Godby, C. S. Peate, A. E. Kincaid, Roger Ballantyne, and Dr. J. F. Landreth; honorary architect, Mr Hart.