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Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1927, Page 2

An appeal is in progress for the benefit of the local branch of the Plunket Society, a Dominion organisation which has achieved remarkable results for the benefit of the very young. The story of the foundation of the Plunket. -Society was told at "Wellington the other day by the Chairman of the Centra! movement in asking the Duchess of York to declare Karitane Home opened. The speaker said: “It is now 20 years ago that Sir Trubv King found three tiny babies neglected and dying in a, dark lean-to attached to a licensed home for the care of infants in Dunedin. His wife willingly accepted the responsibility of their care, and hep devoted mothering and the doctor's skill won life and eventually health for these unfortunate little ones. They throve under the care and supervision of the doctor, and so began one of the finest societies in the world, a small beginning, calling human sympathy and skill to hear on a need that struck the very root of our national life—the welfare of little children. Twenty years ago. before this great work commenced, baby lives were being lost in New Zealand at the terrible rate of 75 per 1000 births. By tho official figures for last year the percentage of infantile deaths was reduced to 39.9 per 1009 births.'’ A movement which has done so much is worthy of support to continue the good work in hand. Locally the branch is doing what it can. Those movements are all affected by the funds available. The mere financial help given, the wider the field of operations. and so it is that the present modest appeal on behalf of the local branch should secure a worthy- response. In addition, donations are acceptable at all times by the ladies who are kindly conducting the useful work for the c-ommunitv for the public benefit.