PLUNKET “FOUNDER’S DAY”

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 193, 13 May 1944, Page 8

PLUNKET “FOUNDER’S DAY”

Lady Newall To Broadcast Tomorrow throughout the Dominion, Plunket Society branches will puy_tribute to the memory o£ Sir Truby King, the founder of the Plunket regime, for that day, May 14, is Founder's Day. Oi. this date the society was founded in New Zealand, and on this day, ever since he died, Sir Truby’s services, not only to this country, but to humanity, are recalled. The work he began can never be called completed, and the horizon ever w’idens. To commemorate the day, her Excellency, Lady Newali. will broadcast a talk from the main national stations tomorrow night at 8.45, adding her tribute to the founder and hi 8 great work. The society was called after Lady Plunket, wife of the Governor at that time, who, with her husband, did much to 'help and encourage Sir Truby King in his work. Lady Plunket s daughter, Mrs. Barnard, is to attend the Founders Day meeting in Christchurch. From a small beginning the society has grown into an important national organization. .Whereas in 1901, the infant mortality rate had been 80 in every 1000, in 1942, it had fallen to 28.71 a thousand. The Society sought not only to lower the death rate, but to raise the general health standard. Sir Truby s book, "Feeding and Care of B a ‘by> has been translated into dozens of different languages. Unsolicited tribute to the late Sir Truby King was received this week from the Truby King Mothercraft Society in Sydney, where the work was reported to be increasing rapidly. The Plunket Society considered that there was today, in some quarters, a feeling that the' society had arrived, and that the educative work could cease. Sir Truby King himself envisaged the day when every mother could be regarded’ as a potential health advocate and teacher, but though much had been accomplished in this direction, still much educational work remained to be done. A l who have the interest of this fine.work at heart, regard the Founder’s Day gatherings as an opportunity for realizing the unlimited field of the society s usefulness and to dedicate themselves anew to the work begun by the devoted founder.