PLUNKET SOCIETY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1932, Page 6

PLUNKET SOCIETY

STATE ASSISTANCE. COMMISSION’S REPORT CRITICISED. DUNEDIN, October 3. The Dunedin branch of the Plunket (Society, criticising the proposed reductions in State assitance, says: “The Expenditure Commission, in comparing the amount of financial support granted to the society by the Government in 1917-18 with the amount at the present' day, does not draw attention to the enormous increase in voluntary support front the community. For every £1 granted by the ,Government at least £2 has to be raised by the society by l voluntary effort for the maintenance of the society’s work. These figures should speak for themselves. Successive Governments have -recognised the national importance of the society’s educational health mission and it is recognised that the society, in undertaking this voluntary work, is relieving the State of an enormous expenditure which would otherwise fall entirely on the Government. , “In the year 1917-19 referred to by the Commission, the society consisted of only twenty-four branches employing . only thirty-seven nurses, eight of whom; had. been first employed in that year when the society was still really in it's infancy. At March 31, ' 1931, it consisted of seventy-two branches employing 129 nurses (exclusive of relieving nurses). At the date 1917-18 there was only on© Karitane Hospital, at Dunedin. # “The Commission’s report refers to the dash resources of the society at March 1, 1931, but does not explain that this morey, was held by thp sev-enty-two branches l , each ’employing from one to thirteen Plunket nurses and each branch being entirely responrible for the raising of its own local finance.

“Were the Commission’s recommendation, in regnyd to a charge being imr>nned ur>nn those who receive benefit carried into effect, naturally all vA-nntn-rv support would be immediately withdrawn ’’