OPOTIKI PLUNKET ROOM

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 182, 15 May 1939, Page 2

OPOTIKI PLUNKET ROOM

Sir,—Jn reply to the letter of the President, Secretary and‘Treasurer ot the Opotiki Sub-branch of the Plunket Society. . i. admit that the proprietors of the Wattle toa-rooms are to be highly commended for their generous loan of the room for “so long”. But the society officers are avoiding the issue. Aly complaint concerned the inadequacy of the room, the fault of the society, and 1 notice this is not denied. ■* The fact- remains that the provision, for the Plunket Nurse is a disgrace to the community as a whole. Were the committee to abandon their somnolence and show a little initiative by appealing - ' to the mothers concerned and the public in general a large sum could' be raised to build a room.

I understand that the society has a sum of money lying idle. This need only be supplemented by contributions from the Opotiki public which seems generous enough when called upon by such a deserving body. Alight I sugest that a street appeal would help enlarge the sum which lias been useless for “so long”. ‘-TRAINED VISITOR’ ’..

Dear Sir,—Having read with interest the two letters published in your paper, re the Plunket Room, may 1, as a Alotfier who uses the so-called Plunk-et-Rdoin regularly, emphatically endorse and -commend tiie remarks of “Trained Visitor”.

In replying may 1 say that the executive of the Society have evaded the main point. Certainly the proprietors of the tea-rooms are to be commended for their generosity, but the room is definitely a “public thoroughfare toa ladies’ convenience” as stated by “Trained Visitor”. From a hygienic point of view, the room is not fit to be used as a Plunket Room, and the . furniture and appliances are certainly most inadequate. On one of mv recent visits to the Plunket Nurse, 1 was forced to sit on. the steps to attend to my baby. It seems a pity that the members of the. Society and wo mothers have, for so long, sat back and kept silent, until a. visitor has brought our negligence lielore our eyes. 1 feel sure that if the members of. tlie Society were to arouse themselves, sufficiently to take an active interest in their duties as a Society, they would receive the- wholehearted: support el the Opotiki Public. ‘‘INTERESTKiI) MOTHER.” [The suggestion made that the Plunket Society is shewing no interest, in the provision of permanent facilities is quite incorrect. The society has been co-operating with the Opotiki Borough Council. The council’s plan for a town hall to incorporate the required rooms fell through and for some months the question of providing a combined rest and Plunket rooms has been under consideration. Plans were prepared and approved and ef- ■ forts have been made to secure a subsidy from the Government. Through no fault ofi the council’s a reply lias, not yet been received. No doubt the matter will be decided definitely in the near future. In the event of the council not being able to go on with its scheme, then the only practicable thing to do/ will be to make a publicappeal.—Ed. News.]