VARIED BULLETIN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 189, 9 May 1944, Page 6

VARIED BULLETIN

Plunket News Gives Facts And Ideas The teaching of mothercraft nnd fathercraft is to be commenced in the new Plunket rooms at Lyttelton, the education board having approved and co-oper-ated in the new course, says the Plunket News, in the latest quarterly review. One of the implications of the war was a realization of the need to put this teaching in its proper place in the education system of the Dominion. The society had taken every opportunity since i.s foundation to educate the potential mothers and had given courses to home science and training college students, girl guides and secondary and primary school children. It is estimated that six Plunket nurses will soon be required to serve the mothers and babies in the Lower Hutt area. In spite of its poor financial position, ’this branch had recently engaged a fourth nurse; the branch was facing financial difficulties because of the rapid growth of population and the nurses were working late hours to cope with the work. Transport facilities were unsatisfactory, and the branch being without cars, the district had to be covered by nurses ou foot or bicycle in all weathers, more than 14 miles a day. and in wet weather it was necessary for them to change their clothing thrice daily, it had been reported. New Rose Hip Recipe. A simplified method of making rose hip syrup is given by the review, which says it had been proved by the Nutrition Research Council that the berries may be put through a metal mincer without impairing their vitamin C content, the syrup from minced berries being as ricli in vitamin as that made by the former laborious process. In the revised method, add li pints of water to every pound of minced berries; soak for _4 hours, strain and squeeze through colander. Transfer the strained juice to a flannel or sugar bag arid allow to drip into a basin. To every pint of the drippings allow 51b. sugar and boil gently for lo minutes. Part of the water may be replaced bv rhubarb juice to increase acidity and improve the keeping qualities, but while hot into sterile jars. Another section dealing with shoes for children said it was gratifying to report that the N.Z. production of shoes for nre-school children had increased from 36,552 pairs in 1942 to 170,450 pairs in 1943; furthermore, importations from overseas were 36.800 pairs ahead of the previous year. Though the shortage had been considerably relieved, mothers complained that they were frequently unable to buy the type of shoe advocated by the Plunket Society, a laced shoe with flexible sole. The Factory Controller had assured the society that firms could make the lace-up shoes if they were ordered by local retailers, so mothers were urged to ask for this type.