SYSTEM DEFENDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19999, 26 July 1939, Page 13

SYSTEM DEFENDED

PLUNKET SOCIETY WAIROA ANNUAL MEET IN (1 DOCTOR’S ADDRESS (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA. this day. A statement to the effect that he rould not understand why there should 'he any criticism of the Plunkel system fa New Zealand was made by Dr. C. Debden-'Hilkins in an address at the mnual meeting of the 'Wairoa branch of the Plunket Soeioty yesterday. There was, he stated, an old saying -bout a prophet being without honour in his own country, and that seemed to ’pply to 'the Plunket system in New Zealand.

There were to 'be found trenchant critics cf the system, but he could not understand why. No system of infant ■management was perfect; no system Wad'been evolved to suit every baby as here were no two babies alike. But the Plunket system had proved to be •"he 'best for most babies. This was borne out 'by the fact that the infant mortality rate in Now Zealand was 'the lowest in the world. Another oroof was the unbounded.'health of the children to be seen in the streets, .vhich w'as better than anywhere else 1 the world, this fact being obvious Ho anyone who had been abroad. Dr. Debden-Wilkins expressed the opinion that had the society dene nothing else than to help to eliminate old traditions, superstition and vague suspicion it was still worth while.

He then went on to describe some of 'the superstitions and problems he met ■with in a hospital ia the East End ol London, in West Africa, Persia and Arabia, stating that in one city in West 'Africa the infant mortality rate amounted to 50 per cent. Out of ■every two children born cue died — an appalling state of affairs and due mainly to superstition. Dr. Debden-Wilkins, who was extended a welcome by the 'Mayor, Mr. H. L. Harker. stated .that so far he had found Wairoa a very pleasant town and the people he had met were very pleasant indeed. At the conclusion of his address he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Need For Members The need for more members for the society was stressed' by the Mayor, who presided over a good attendance. Referring to the annual subscriptions of members, the Mayor stated that ilust year he had made an appeal for an increased membership owing to the subscriptions being the society’s only regular source of income. He was very pleased to see that there was an increase .in .subscriptions of £6 3s Gd over last year. The Mayor added that the society should be congratulated 1 on accomplishing the year’s work without drawing on its reserves. It was nice for the society to have a little mest egg of over £ISOO.

"The society is in a very healthy and prosperous' position,” concluded the Mayor. Election of Officers

The following were elected to hold office for the ensuing year:—President, Mrs. J. R. Gillespie; vicepresidents; Mesdames J. Ross, F. McArdie, H. L. Harker, C. Jackson, and Miss Mcßae; secretary, Mrs. R. A. Mack-ay; treasurer, Mrs. W. A. Crarer; commif.ee, Mesdames H. M. Bayly, 11. McCrae, M. Svensen, R. McDonald, F. H. Jones, 11. Prebble, C. Jackson, C. Hyde, F. Mardon. D. Evans, Bloxham, F. HinchcLiffe, If. Finch, H. Crichton, A. Fyson, G. de V. Robinson, D. Robertson, A. T. Carroll, A. J. Dever; and Misses Harvey and McRea; advisory board, Messrs. E. L. Tiiomson, J. R. Gillespie, C. V. Chamberlain, H. L. Harker, and J. M. Angus; auditor. Mr. J. J. Millar.