'Taken for Granted'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 162, 27 July 1937, Page 6

'Taken for Granted'

PLUNKET 'WORK • Dominion President Appeals for Support HASTINGS CONFERENCE "Though a vast amount of pioneering work has been done, I woxild urge upon you all to remember that there is stili more to be done," said Mrs James Begg, of Dunedin, Dominion president of the Plunket Socxety, this morning when ofiiciaily opening the biennial conference of the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Plunket Society branches at thq Hastings Couneil Chambers. "I feel that there is a tendency - on the part of the people to accept all that has been donO, and all the efforts of the flupket Society, without any feeling of obligation on their part to support the society," she added. Mrs Begg went on to say that all the Governments of the civilised world wero exercised over the falling birth-rate of their respective couutrieg, It was' » liighly-complex problem, and though various countries had tried out different methods of meeting the difficulty they still fotind the birth-rate deelining. It was a problem that seemed to be insoluble. "We in New Zealand have been very well served by the efforts of the Plunket Society, but I do feel that the people seexn to take the work of tho society for granted and appear to see no reason for heiping the society as in tixe past," said Mrs Begg. "We are in need of encouragement and s'Upport st;U so that we can carry on with our work." Delegates numberifig over 2Qj from eigbt branchea— Gisborne, Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, "Waipawa, Waipukurau, Dannevirke and Pahxatu — together with members of the Hastings and various sub-committees of the country districts, were present, Mjss Elsie Wilfiame, president of the Hastings branch, presidittg. Also present were Drf Martin Tweed, of Wellington," medical adviser ; Miea N. p. Fitzgibbon, of Dunedin, nursihg adviser ; and Miss G. Hoddinott, of Dunedin, Dominion secretary. A cordial welcome to delegates' waa extended by 'Miss Williams, who expressed gratification at tho large representation. A speeial welcome was extended to Mrs Begg in her capacity as Dominion president, and Miss Williams made referenee to the vast amount of work that had been done in the paat on behalf of the Society by the Dunedin executive. ' 'But for the wonderful work that has been done down there I do not think that the society would be in the position that it is in to-day," she said when asking Mrs Begg tp express Itbe thanks of the Hawke's Bay and East Coast branches to the executive. "I do hope that this conference will be of great help to you all,"* said Misa Williams in coneluding her welcome; '