OUR BABIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 1, 23 March 1927, Page 4

OUR BABIES

PLUNKET DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 25 The first anniversary of Plunket Day will be celebrated by a street collection throughout the city and suburbs, when an appeal will be made for funds with which to carry on the district work of the Auckland branch of the Plunket Society. Why are Funds Needed? The annual, expenditure on district work by the Auckland branch is £2,500. This maintains headquarters and suburban offices, and pays the salaries and travelling expenses of twelve nurses in sixteen centres in and around the City of Auckland. During the last year no fewer than 63,987 visits of mothers and babies were paid to these centres, while the nurses paid 12,639 visits to homes. Notwithstanding a Government grant, twothirds of the funds have to be raised by voluntary contributions. Prevention Better Than Cure The district work is more preventative than curative, and aims at keeping the normal baby well—a matter of far greater importance than curing them of ailments they should never have. In this respect the Plunket Society has been a conspicuous success, and in view of the rapid expansion of the work and the demand for more nurses, it is unthinkable that, through lack of money, the organisation should be crippled and unable to carry on. This, unfortunately, is the position at the present time. Free Education The question is frequently asked: If funds are needed, why not charge for the services of the Plunket nurses? The explanation is that over and over again the Plunket Society is told by doctors and nurses how often women come to them too late, when no amount of after-care and attention can make mother and child what they would have been but for sheer ignorance of their own simple bodily needs and requirements as prospective and actual mothers. The work of the Plunket Society is a form of adult education, and, as such, should be free, and easy of access to all those seeking such knowledge. This is not charity, but “Free Education,” given in the best interests of the country and the nation. “Perfect Motherhood is Perfect Patriotism” It is recognised that organised giving is infinitely more satisfactory than spasmodic collections. For this reason the society will concentrate on a monster appeal for annual suSscriptions of one guinea, although larger or smaller amounts will be gladly received. It is anticipated that subscribers will be largely recruited from those who have benefited by the services of the Plunket nurses, and that these will, in turn, by active propaganda, extend a widespread influence in favour of the appeal. A Special Appeal The rapid expansion of the society’s activities has rendered a forward move imperative. The ol’d quarters, being cramped and totally unsuitable, the nurses were simply unable to carry on under the trying conditions existing. It seemed providential that at a time of such stress and difficulty, the splendid property in Symonds Street, admirably suited to their needs, came under notice, and was purchased a; a cost of £5,250. This sum, together with expenses of alterations and furnishings, amounting to £1,200, leaving the socic with a liability of £6,250 over and above their annual expenditure. Friday’s appeal is made with every confidence that donations will be given towards re- - ducing this debt, and thus relieving the worrying, increased financial burden which, by force of circumstances, the office-bearers of the Plunket Societ (who are all voluntary workers) have been called upon to bear. Now is the time for practical assistance to a great humanitarian movement. Surely everyone’s generosity will be extended to HELP THE MOTHERS AND SAVE THE BABIES.