LOW INFANT DEATH RATE.

Shannon News, 4 October 1927, Page 1

LOW INFANT DEATH RATE.

PRAISE TOR PLUNKET SOCIETY. That New Zealand could be proud of its low infant death-rate, was the ! opinion expressed by Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, when speaking at the Maternity Home on Monday. Twenty years ago, he said, New Zealand went'in for the Plunket system of advice to mothers regarding the care of babies. The death rate at that time was as high as 89 peT 1000 births with a much smaller papulation than now. In 1907 Sir Truby King set about analysing the position and found the cause of the large death rate. He established the Plunket Society which to-day had 60 branches and employed 100 nurses. (Applause). As a result of that work instead of 89 babies dying last year New Zealand only lo3t 39.76 per 1000. (Applause). The Minister urged all who had the time to spare to give their help to the branch of the Society established in Palmerston North. Parliament was voting £25,000 this session for the benefit of the Plunket work throughout the Dominion, •