PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Shannon News, 25 May 1928, Page 3

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING OF LEVIN CENTRE.

■ The annual meeting of the Levin centre of the Plunket Soeiety was held in Century Hall, Levin Tuesday afternoon; the president (Mrs T. Hobson) was in the chair, and there was a fair attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames P. "W. Goldsmith and C. S. Keedwell. The President, who read the annual report and balance sheet, stated that a Levin centre had now been established in lieu of a branch. The local branch was set up four years ago, and the report presented was the first relating to Levin as a centre of the society. The' effect of this development was that Shannon had been brought in as a sub-branch under Levin. ANNUAL EEPOET. The annual report of the Levin branch was as under: — Your Committee have much pleasure in submitting their first annual report and balance-Rheet for year ended March 31st, 1928. - Monthly meetings have been held during the year and have been well attended. Under Nurse Norris the work continues to progress and the committee wish to express appreciation of the excellent work done by her. During the year funds have been raised by annual subscriptions and donations, two shop days and a bridge- party. Although the number | of annual subscribers has increased i considerably, there is still room for ; improvement, and we hope next year to record a further increase in membership. Thanks are again due both to the Borough and County Councils, for grants of £lO each, £25 was also received from the T. G. Macarthy Trust. In June, the committee entertained Mrs Shennan, at a farewell tea, prior to her departure from Levin. In recognition of her work as secretary since the work began here, she was made an honorary life member of the Society. We have since lost foui more of our committee members —Mesdames McArthur, Magee, McQueen and Gibson —all of whom have taken a keen interest in the work. The Plunket Society, Women's Division of the Farmers' Union and Women's Institute have 'combined forces to raise money for the erection of Plunket and Eest rooms and their efforts are meeting with great success. The Borough Council has set aside a suitable section of land, for 'which we are deeply indebted to them. The committee wish to thank the De Luxe Picture Company for use of lounge for monthly meetings, Mr Hamilton for auditing accounts, Mr Capper for free transport of emulsion, etc., and the 'Press for their willing assistance at all times.

The balance sheet showed that at March 31st, 1927, there was £4 5s 4d cash in hand and £sl 18s in the P.O Savings Bank, which was increased by deposits of £45 to £96 18s. Withdrawals of £49 were made, reducing the bank balance to £47 18s, which was increased to £49 2s Id by interest accrued to December 31st 1927. Tht principal items of receipts were:— Subscriptions £64 3s, donations —Levin Borough Council £IC, Horowhenua County Council £lo—£2o, Government subsidy £135 6s 4d, grant by McCarthy Trust £25, quota nurse's salary pah', by Shannon sub-branch £39 7s, salet of emulsion and literature £3l 19s 7d, proceeds Shop Day, etc., £55 17s 4d The total receipts, including the credit balance and the withdrawals of £4l from the P. 0.5.8., were £4BB 13s 9d. The expenditure was £333 7s, the main items being: Nurse's salary (including relieving nurse) £228 13s 4d car allowance and travelling expense* £l6 ss, rent £26, emulsion purchase* £32 7s 6d. The Savings Bank account showed a balance of £49 2s Id. The asset* amounted to £l5O 6s 9d, made up oi utensils and equipment £4O, Saving? Bank account £49 2s Id, cash in Bank of New Zealand £6l 4s Bd. The liabilities are represented by the credit oJ the assets to the capital fund. The President mentioned that tlu subscriptions had more than doubled during the past year. SHANNON SUB-BRANCH. The balance-sheet of the Shannon sub-branch showed that the receipts, including a credit of £3O 6s lid and part of fixed deposit refunded £32 16s 3d, were £72 4s Bd. The expenditure amounted to £65 9s Bd, leaving a ere dit of £6 15s, which, added to the sum of £122 8s on fixed deposit, brought the funds to £129 3s. The assets amounted to £2O.

The third annual report of the Shannon sub-branch was as follows: —During the year the work of the Society has increased considerably, much to the satisfaction of the Committee. Nurse Norris has been visiting Shannon once a week for twelve months from Levin and much credit is due to her for the interest she has' taken in this Branch. The following are the figures for the year ending March, 1928:—Nurse's visits to Shannon 50; Nurse's visits to homes 123; total, 173. Adults' visits to rooms 416, children's visits to rooms 406; total, 1928 822; total, 1927 762; increase 60. The financial position of the Society is very satisfactory and a fixed deposit is in the Bank of N.Z. for six months. Regret was expressed at the departure from the district of Mr and Mrs Hulton and Mrs T. A. Johnston, both ladies having been President and VicePresident, respectively, while Mr Hulton was a member of the Advisory Board. All three had been keen workers since the inception of the Society. The Committee wish to thank the following:—Mr J. A. Roach, providing Nurse's meals; Mrs Hill, providing morning and afternoon tea;. Messrs Hotehen and Watts, reduction in

Nurse's travelling expenses; Mr Cronquest, auditing books; the Press for «otiC«s and reports, and all others who

have helped in any way to further the work of the Soeiety. NURSE'S REPORT ON LEVIN AND SHANNON. The Plunket Nurse (Miss S. Norris) presented the following report for the year:— Total for Levin —New cases during the year 80, visits to homes 805. Visitors to rooms: —Adults 1824, babies 1459, older children 384; total 3667. Total Levin and Shannon —Visits to homes 928. Visitors to rooms: —Adults 2240, babies 1865, older children 437; total 4542. Total to rooms and visited 5470. The health of the babies has been good throughout the year, except for slight colds and a mild epidemic of measles. I wish to thank the members of the committee for their help in the carrying out of my work in the district. A SATISFACTORY POSITION. Mrs Hobson, in commenting on the reports, said that the organisation Bad ha"d more expense since becoming a centre, but it now collected the Government subsidy, which it did not get before. Provision had now been made for the older children, up to school age, to be. brought to the Plunket Nurse, and this had been found to be a benefit to the children. The Mayor moved the adoption of the renort and balance sheet, and said that the Society was in a very sound financial position, and those who had worked so well for it deserved credit. The Society was particularly of advantage to country people, to whom medical aid was not so 'accessible as to the town dwellers. The Shannon branch had a good balance and was carrying on very satisfactorily. The number of visits to the nurse in the combined district was remarkable, averaging over 15 a day over the whole year. It was satisfactory from the committee's point of view to know 'hat the people in the district were taking advantage of the institution. It was also' gratifying to observe that the society had been well supported both with donations and assistance. The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by Mrs W. S. Park. Mr Falloon asked if the society should not get a subsidy on all donations, but the President pointed out that the subsidy was on the Nurse's salary. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Mrs Hobson (re-elected); vice-presidents, Mesdames Goldsmith, Keedwell, Park and Percy (re-elected); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mrs W. Smaill (reelected) ; hon. auditor, Mr G. D. Hamilton (re-elected); committee, Mesdames 11. Denton, C. Bartholomew, W. M. Clark, W. Davie, J. Logan, J. Shepherd, F. Pirani, E. M. Ryder, Capt. Prowse, C. Frechtling, T. Bevan, J. D. O'Connor, D. J. Thomson, S. J. Thompi son, W. Falloon, Miss Hitchcock and Miss McKegg, with power to add to ! their number, advisory board, Dr. Hunter, Dr Thompson, Messrs T. Hobson, C. S. Keedwell, P. H. Harper, W. S. Park, W. Donnelly, J. Casey, J. Logan, and A. L. linkpen. It was decided that the meeting be held on the first Monday in each month, but that the next meeting be on June 11th.

The meeting closed with votes of thanks to the Century Hall trustees and to the ehair.