PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5431, 31 May 1929, Page 2

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

PAEROA BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING, The annual general meeting of the Paeroa branch of the Royal N.Z. Society for the Health, of Women and Children was held in the Centenary Hall on Wednesday afternoon, His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, presiding over a fair attendance > f members.

The president, Mrs Marshall, presented the committee’s report, which showed that the establishment of a sub-branch at Paeroa was decided upon at a public meeting on May 29, 1928. The nurse commenced her duties at the rooms three days later. The necessary funds were raised by a canvass of the townspeople and by a social. The equipment purchased included a baby scales, chairs, a screen, and other articles ; and a radiator and other gifts had been donated. The number of visits paid to the Plunket Rooms from June 1, 1928, to March 31, 1929, Was as follows : Mothers, 442 ; babies, 434 ; children over two years, 84 ; and visits to babies in their own homes, 30 ; total, 990. In every case the latest reports showe.d that the general health was good. Thanks were due to Mrs E. P. Fathers, for providing lunch for the nurse on the days when she attended at Paeroa; to the trustees of the Methodist Church, for the use, free of charge, of the Centenary Hall; to Messrs Hedge and de Castro, for offering to stock a supply of baby foods ; to the townspeople, for the splendid response they had made in providing funds; to the advisory board, for then' help ; and to Mr C. N. O’Neill, for auditing the accounts.

Mention was also made that even during the inclement weather of last winter the Plunket Rooms were always open on the appointed day, and while Nurse Houghton was laid aside owing to her accident the duties were very ably carried on by Nurse Flay. The report concluded with an expression of confidence in the success of the sub-branch, -provided the support accorded in the past was continued. The balance-sheet disclosed an income from all sources of £72 15s 3d, and a total expenditure of £6O 5s 7d. The credit balance of £l2 9s Bd, together with assets amonuting to £7 10s, made the excess of assets over liabilities £l9 19s Bd. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mrs W. Marshall; vice-presidents, Mrs G. S. Taiboys and Mrs C. N. O’Neill ; treasurer, Mrs A. P. Grant; secretary, Mrs G. H. Taylor ; committee, Mesdames V. J. Innes, R. S. Carden, S. J. Hedge, E. P. Fathers, G. Death, Epps, Scudamore, L. S. Davis, A. F. Steedman, A. Pellow, W. D. Nicholas, and W. E/Ward. An instructive and interesting discourse bn the objects and ideals of the society was delivered by Nurse Houghton, who had made a special trip from Te Aroha for the purpose. The meeting closed with a vote of appreciation of the able manner in which Nurse Houghton had carried out her duties and of the work of the executive in so successfully establishing the sub-branch in Paeroa. NGATEA BRANCH. FAREWELL TO PRESIDENT. Members of the Ngatea branch of the Plunket Society were present in record numbers at the monthly meeting on Thursday afternoon, the purpose being to bid farewell to Mrs W. G. Hayward, who has been president of the branch since its formation, and who is leaving shortly io reside in Remuera.

Mrs McCarthy spoke of the able leadership of Mrs Hayward and of her splendid assistance to the organisation and to mothers and babies. She also referred to the president’s assistance and kindness to the Plunket nurses.

Mrs J. Motion, secretary of the branch, also spoke, and on behalf of the members presented Mrs Hayward with a very nice brown silk umbrella. Mrs E. L. Walton was appointed president of the branch in Mrs Hayward’s place, and Mrs Dudding succeeded to the position of vice-presi-dent, while Mesdames Stitchbury and Trembath were appointed to fill vacancies on the executive committee.