PLUNKET SOCIETY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1928, Page 1

PLUNKET SOCIETY

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. ,By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 29. At tlie Plunket Society Conference to-day the following remit, from Pieton, was carried: “That representation be made to the Government for tho purpose of obtaining exemption from stamp duty in regard to all receipts issued for, or all moneys re'ecivcd for and on behalf of the- Plunket Society, and an instrument or document whatever required or authorised to he given by cheque, issued and signed made,or produced in pursuance of rules of tho Society.” The matter of tlie size of Plunket baby patterns, issued by the Society, was brought up by a Napier delegate who suggested this as many mothers complained that tho patterns were iar too large for practical' use, they should be issued in two sizes. Miss Pnttrick said tho great difficulty was to get-patterns which would on economic grounds last a baby from birth to one year. It was also stated that the Dunedin branch had' patterns printed at their own risk and had £l5O worth in stock. An amendment was carried—that patterns should remain ns at present until a new edition was issued.

A Wellington remit, suggesting “that in view of the ever recurring criticism of the Society’s policy of giving the services of Plunket nurses free of charge to mothers, every member before accepting nomination to a committee should thoroughly understand and be prepared loyally to support all policies of tlie Society” was carried.

POST-NATAL THE VT.MENT. The following remit was considered: “As tlie Government is giving much careful thought and consideration to the subject of the health and mother and child just now, we would like to suggest that post-natal treatment in State maternity hospitals and homes he given a more important place in the programme; that a stay of three weeks in a State hospital or home, after a confinement, be made the rule as much as possible, and at the same cost to the mother as two weeks would he. This we consider it would he of untold benefit to the mother and child, and form an important link in the chain of Plunket work.”

Sir Truby King expressed sympathy with the idea, but stated that three weeks in hospital was not always beneficial. Tf they could have what was given in the Karitane Homes for the third week—cheerful surroundings, with training for mother and child—it would be ideal.

3 The Koii J. A. Young said the Government was fully alive to the importance of providing in maternity hospitals every facility for those wishing to stay three weeks, hut the stay of the mother was regulated on the medical officer’s advice. The fact that maternal infantile mortality was larger in the country had been the cause of the Government encouraging hospital boards to establish pre-natal clinics, and also to establish maternity wards in country hospitals available for mothers from the country. These faced the difficulty that tliev could not he registered as training schools for midwive-, because they could not get the requisite number of cases. The Minister pointed out that hospitals were paid for half by the Government and half hv local body lates, and any reduction in the charge to a patient meant more expense to the public. He expressed sympathy with the feeling of the remit, which was passed accordingly.