WELFARE WORK

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 437, 19 May 1937, Page 3

WELFARE WORK

MOTHERS AND BABIES Plunket Society’s Annual Meeting The Mayor, Mr. J. W. McMillan, presided at the twenty-third annua) meeting of the Stratford branch of the Plunket Society held in the Municipal Buildings yesterday afternoon, when there was an attendance of over twenty members. Apologies were tendered for the absence of Dr. Doris Gordon, Mesdames K. McLean and L. Riera, Mr. W. J. Ptolson, MJ 5 ., and Mr. P. ThomeoQ. During the year ten monthly meetings of the general committee have been held, these meetings being fairly well attended, and a keen interest in the work being shown by 4hs members, stated the report of the president,. Mrs A. O. Hugo, and the i’e.sretary, Mrs. N. H. Moss. We regret having to record that after serving the society for seven years as secretary and treasurer, Mrs 1 Urwin was compelled to relinquish that position, for health reasons. The committee desires to place on record , its appreciation of her valuable! »n<t conscientious service to the. society during that period. Resignations from the committee during the year were—Mrs. Fredric, who has been a valuable member for some years, and Mesdames Townley dnd Morris, who resigned upon leaving the district. is with pressure that the committee can report a considerable improvement in, the society’s financial portion at the end of the year. The year comHicnjped with an overdraft of £lO/13/3, and was concluded with a credit balance of £97/2/10. This improvement is mainly due to the result of the special efforts which have been made during the year, and the improvement from members’ subscriptions is not yet sufficient to ensure that the society’s work can be put on to a basis of a soundi annual income. The special efforts- to raise funds consisted of a baby photograph exhibition held in July, this resulting in a nett result of £5O. The committee is grateful to the management and staff of Peggy Page limited, and Mr. W. Ewing for their work in connection with this effort, and) the thanks of the committee are due to many others who assisted with the considerable amount of work involved! in this effort. The annual

street day held on November 20th, together with the proceeds of an art union realised a further £5O, and bridge parties at 'the residences of Mesdames. E. H. Young and E, S. Rutherfurd contributed' £l6, The committee has been encouraged by the good support) received troiA the country districts during the year, Midhirst Having contributed £l7/Sj Toko £2l/6/9, and Cardiff £5/8/6. Members’ subscriptions show an increase of £6, but memhere generally will no doubt recognise that with work of such an important nature, there is room for considerable increase in the society’s membership. A small sum was collected from the Better Baby Club boxes, and it is hoped that in future year s all mothers receiving the assistance of the Society will make some contribution to the Society byhaving one of these boxds The society was represented at the general conference in Christchurch in November last, by Mi’s. R. Masters, to whom the thanks of the society are due for her attendance. Nurse’s Report. Of ‘t.he new babies about ninety per cent, of them could! be classed at- normal when first seen, and very few of these have failed to make satisfactory progress during the year, stated the report of the Plunket Nurse, Miss A. Mason. ,

A few were brought in suffering from malnutrition or some digestive upset, and most of these did welii with simple dietic treatment. The number of new baby cases was 149 and 1364 home visits were paid'. Mrs. Hugo, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said: “This yelar we are pleased to find! we are on the right side of the ledger and have cleared off all overdrafts and have a substantial credit balance. Better times may have helped, but we feel this result han been brought about by the perteverance of the committee in their efforts and in keeping the aims and objects of the society before the public. The increase in members subscriptions is showing an upward trend, which makes us hope we are gradually getting the public sympathy. But when we look rat the number of mothers who benefit from the society’s work, there is much more room for improvement yet. We look forward to the day when every mother attending the rooms win feel it her duty to become a member.

“Our Better Baby Boxes have not brought in as much as we could have hoped'. That is a way mothers could help. If they would take a box and every time they attend the rooms put one penny or small coin in the

box, the result would be very help, ful to our finances. “Our nurse’s report shows we are fulfilling the purpose of the society. You will notice the members' are ahead of last year, except in the case of children visiting the rooms. Tnis is accounted for by the epidemic' restrictions. When the number of babies- the nurse has attended is considered, we must realise what a wonderful blessing this work is to the community—not to the mothers alone but in helping to build up sturdy happy youngsters who later will mean much to the community and to our fair land of New Zealand. Nurse Mason has given conscientious service, and the committee recognise it and it has been appreciated: ” Financial Position. Mrs. T. Urwin, in seconding the motion, noted a little warning with regard to the balance-sheet. While agreeing that the committee was justified in regarding the financial position with igratiffcfationj, the branch must not forget that the aim should be to secure a complete financial position. The Plunket Society had come to he regarded as a necessary burden to the community, but whoever suffered the babies must be given a chance, as they were a financial asset to the country. The work called for an expemditure of about £4OO yearly. The Government' ‘subsidy toward the Nurse’s salary was £126,, and after subscriptions and donations were accounted for, there was a sum of £lB5 >tc find for their work by special efforts, which had proved in the piast to be hard fighting. During the pas: year the branch hai raised £IOC more '.tan the expenditure, which was* very pleasing, and the commitjtee hoped they would have a long run of prosperity, but the members must not relax and rest on their laurels. They would have to replace a certain amount of their assets such as renovating the rooms, as had been done recently. Their reward had been long overdue, and they must keep the position as good as possible, and to do so they must continue to work as hard as ever.

The Mayor said it was once again his duty fo congratulate the. society on its very successful year, and especially on their special efforts'. There wag. no need to talk about getting more members, beciause it seemed impossible to build up the membership. It was surprising to find that there were 144 new babies. Everj’ new baby should represent a new member, either the fother or the mother. The Nurse’s report was rbther remarkable’, as the homes visited numbered 1364 (and visits or adults 2166. The number of babies attended to was 2052 and the children 489, and it was reasonable Ito ask that all the mothers should join up as members. The figures would come as a surprise to all who did not tlake much interest in the work of the society. If it were not for the donations and: the special efforts, there would be a debit instead of a credit balance. It was Very nice for the society to know that such, a substantial credit balance had been the result of the. year’s work The asets were in la remarkably good position, standing at £lO6O. There was always the opportunity of borrowing on their assets if the results did not come up to requirements. Altogether, the Society wh» in a very happy position. Mr. lfc_ Miilan said he was sorry to learn wtat Mrs. Mobs was resigning from the position of secretary, as she had done excellent work, which was greatly appreciated/ The society had been fortunate in the past in the choice of secretaries, who had no small task to perform. In conclus ion, he expressed the hope that the society would have another happy snd prosperous year. The motion was carried unanimously. Election of Officers. Officers were elected as follows: Patronesses: Mrs. A. W. Budge, Dr. Doris Gordon; president: Mrs. A. O. Hugo; vice-presidents: Mesdames

Miasters, Fredric, Rutherfurd, Martin, Urwin; general town committee: Mesdames Brooks, Connor, Newell, Riera, Allen, Hunt, A H. White, Bishop, Malone, McCullough, Richards, Creswell, Tyrer, Young, D. White, Campbell, Strachan, Polson, Bodlie, O’Neill, McLean, Lindup, Morgan and J. Campbell and MicPhersen (Eltham). Country representatives: Mesdames Kirkby, Henderson, Hine, Scannon, Schumacher, Adlam, Boyles, Marchant, Harkness, Wheller, O’Reilly, Graham, Murray, Groshinski, Smith, Downs, Myers, Milne, and Miss Milne. Advisory board: Drs. Gordon, Steven and Lambert; Messrs. J. W. McMillan, R. Masters, D. J. Malone, R. Tyrer, N. H. Moss, W. J. Polson, and P. Thomson. Hon. Solicitor: Mr R. Tyrer; hon. auditor: Mr F. P. D. Jefferies; Plun. ket Nurse: Miss A. Mason; hon secretary and treasurer: Mrs. A. G. McKenzie. Nurse Mason then addressed the members on the aims and objects of the Plunket Society, referring to the eiarly history of -the movement. On the motion of Mrs. Hugo, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Nurse Mason for her interesting address. Votes of thanks were passed to the Press for publicity during the year,, md to the Mayor for presiding.