PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 12

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

A PROUD RECORD. ANNUAL MEETING OE BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Plunket Society was held at Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame’s yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Manslord) presiding. Associated with Dir Mansford were the president" (Mrs A. Coombs), and the secretary-treasurer (Mrs M. Aitcliison). Members of the committee and others interested were present. Mr Manslord welcomed Mrs AY Trueman and Mrs D. U. Barron, the president ancl secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the Foxton siil»-l>ranch, who represented Foxton at. the meeting.

The report (previously published in the “Standard”) was adopted. Speaking to its adoption. Mr Alans ford congratulated the local branch and Fox--1 ton sub branch on the healthy state of the finances. The assets of the branch were valued at £3549 0* lOd, and a credit balance of £65 6s 2d was shown in the year’s activities. The sub-branch showed an increase of £3l Os Od over last year’s balance. It bad been stated. added Mr Mansford. that New Zealand had tlie | lowest infant mortality rate in the world. Naturally they were proud of this position, but they could not rest on their laurels; Australia, was coming very close behind. Taken on a five-year estimate, from 1931-35, the infant mortality of New Zealand was 30 per 1000 and of Australia 41, showing a marked improvement in Australia is compared with New Zealand. The Dominion, however, had made wonderful strides in the past years, and the improvement in Australia was largely due to the work of flic Plunket Society there. Both countries had reason to be proud of the position. The infant mortality of tlie United States of America was 00 per 1000. England and "Wales 03. Scotland 82. Denmark 77. and Germany 78. The Plunket Society was formed in New Zealand by Sir Frederick Truby King in 1907. when the infant mortality rate had been 88.79, so that great progress had l>een made in the last 30 years. Mr Mansford paid, a tribute to the ladies in fho Plunket Society throughout New Zealand for their wonderful work, and also to the nurses. Colonel J. H. Why to reminded the meeting that tlie branch bad been lucky as far as donations went, amounts of £l5O and £4O having been received, as well as £3O from the Palmerston North City Council. Otherwise, be sab! - credit balance would not have been shown. The lion, auditor (Mr C. V. Day) commented in a note on the excellent way in which the accounts had been kept. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Tlie election oi officers resulted; Pa~rons, Their Excellencies Viscount anil Viscountess Galway: patroness, Mrs Mansford; president, Mrs Coombs; vice-presidents. Mesdanies J. A. Nash. "W. Hunter Will. L. A. Abraham. .7. Fisher, D. Mitchell, C. W. Perch. T. P. Moore, C. King. F. J. Nathan. L. H. Collinson. T. F. Fairbrotlier, AA. Langlev, J. Murray. C. A. Small. A. L. Robinson and Miss McLapan ; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mrs Aitcliison: hon. solicitor, Mr T. F. Relling; boil, auditor, Air Day; committceT ALL O AKLogan (chairwoman). Mesdanies AV. G. Black, H. B. l'ree, L. A. Fergnsou, K. B. Garland. A. Grigor. G. Hslse. G. C. Petersen, 11T. Tidwell. T. J. Dodgers, It. C. Burnett; representatives of Foxton sub-branch, Mesdanies AV. Trueman and D. R. Barron (lion, secretary); advisory hoard. Dr. AA . Hunter AA ill. Dr. Ivan- AVilson. AL- C. S. AA’illiams. Afessrs A. E ATansford. -7. A. Nash. Colonel J. H. AAliyte. Afessrs A. J. Graham, J, Afurray, L. AL Abraham. A. Grigor, J. Ireland, and R- L. C. Aitcliison; finance committee, Mesd ’mes - Coombs and Aitcliison. Aliss AfcLagan. Dr. AVill. Al essrs A. E. Mansford. Colonel AA livto. A. Grigor. ,T. Ireland. R. L. C. Aitcliison, and T. F. Relling. A vote of thanks was accorded the hon. solicitor and hon. auditor, and the nurses, Air ATansford also being thanked for presiding. Mrs L. A. Abraham, in a letter to the meeting, thanked the branch for the part taken in the recent presentation made to her by the organisations with which she had been associated. It had been a great surprise to her. she wrote. Air Mansford. before retiring from the meeting, welcomed the speaker for the afternoon. Aliss A. Al. Kearns, the Plunket nurse. Aliss Al. AfcLagan expressed the pleasure that was felt in the return of Aliss Kearns from Dunedin to Palmerston Nc-rtli. her remarks being endorsed by Airs Coombs. There was a pleasing incident when little Pauline AA’ood presented Aliss Kearns with a bouquet. The speaker’s remarks are published in another column. Afternoon tea concluded the meeting, the tables being adorned with lemon and orange Iceland poppies.