The Plunket Society

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19980, 4 July 1939, Page 16

The Plunket Society

Sir, —A recent advertisement of the forthcoming annual meeting of the Plunkst Society in Gisborne calls for more than the passing notice of readers. It is hardly necessary to draw attention again to the good offices cf ; the society, which has worked so well in this district and throughout the Dominion for over a quarter cf a century. The present need for the service which it renders to this community is well illustrated by the 9000 attendances at the Gisborne rooms last year and the monthly supervision cf over GOO babies. This social welfare work which is provided without cost to those who take advantage of it is an activity which the State has not yet claimed from private control, nor indeed could it function so 'intimately or. sympathetically as a State organ isaticn.

The inauguration- of maternity benefits under tire Social Security Act is certainly commendable in principle, but its practice has aroused -opposition from the mothers cf the 'Dominica towards the routine methods cf a Government department with which they must comply. However, apart from this provision of free, or partly free, maternity service no system is -■oernted by the State for the care and supervision of the babies themselves

It is here that the Plunket Society performs its great national service. I submit that no -State nursing service would meet the needs of the community so well and so easily as 3 privately-controlled body such as the Plunket Society freed, as it is, from hampering restrictions. Towards the actual management of the local branch there has of recent vears been evidenced a marked apathy on the part cf the younger mothers of Gisborne. The question as to> whether the society has outlived its usefulness is well answered by its growing record cf service. Perhaps the inclusion cf new blood on -the committee might quicken public interest and the forthcoming meeting presents an opportunity to our younger citizens. The non-sttc’dance of mothers at past annual meetings has been .painfully noticeable '-nd suggests either disinterest or disrioproval. This year's gathering should witness a revival of popular interest and practical appreciation. SUBSCRIBER.