HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 359, 9 April 1910, Page 8

HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

AN.nCAL meeting of the society

There was a good attendance at the animal meeting of the Sutiely for the Promotion of the Jlealth of Women and Uiiidivn at llie Y\ liall last night. Mr. 11. Okey. M.l'.. presided. 'I In: annua! report, |)resenteii by the president, Mrs. Doekrill. dealt with the lormation of the society at the instigation of Lady Plunket. and with the assistance of Dr. Truby King and Miss Brown, matron of tlic Hospital. The first nurse. Miss Warnock. was succeeded at the end of October last by Xurse McCarthy, who is still here, fulfilling her duties in a satisfactory and capable manner. During the year .105 babies were attended to, and 554 visits paid. A large number of letters were received (and replied to by the Plunket Nurse) from mothers all over Taranaki, asking for advice. Some mothers brought in their lubies to the nurse from a considerable distance, and she went into the .oontry on several occasions to attend urgent cases. Over 000 pamphlets were distributed, and many of that number on written and personal application. All this went to show that the work of the society was verv much appreciated, and the committee hoped during the coming year to extend this good work by forming .branches of the society in the centres of population in the Taranaki district. During their visit to Wellington as delegates to the conference the president and secretary were introduced bv Mr. 11. Okey, M.P.. to the Hon. Mr. Buddo, Minister of 'Public Health, and he proraised them that Mew Plymouth's share of the vote by Parliament for the Society for the Health of Women and Children should not be less than £SO. The branch had since received that amount of money from the Government, and they felt greatly indebted to Mr. Okey for his valuable assistance. The society wished to heartily thank the Licensed Victuallers' Association for their kindness to the nurse, and for .the great assistance they rendered to the society by giving the nurse free board and lodgings for the past year. They also wished to thank the Borough Council for the free use of the old read-iing-room, Town Hall, used as an office , for the Plunlcet Nurse and also for the committee meetings, and the New Plymouth Press. Since the beginning of the year the branch received in donations, subscriptions, and Government grant the sum of £lB4 lis 2d, and ihey .hoped that all those who so liberally subscribed during the past year would realise the usefulness and importance of the work that had been done, and that it would aet as an incentive to induce them to still further assist the society. To Dr. Trubv King, whose persona] energy and zeal started them on this work, thafiks are due, and thev could best show their gratitude to him bv united efforts to continue the work of the society in which he is so deeply interested.

Mr. Okey moved the adoption of the report, and congratulated the branch on the success of the year's operations. The district was to be congratulated upon having a Plunket Nurse and ladies willing to give their time in directing their work. He did not think this work yould be done, as suggested, by the hospital boards, ne said that the Government, had not been favorable to giving the society a subsidy, as it already subsidised hospital boards, but pressure was brought to bear upon the Minister bv the various members of Parliament, and he thought the subsidy fairly safe for a number of years.

Mr'. Tisch seconded the motion, which wns ep.rriel without. dissent, and without a voice rai«pfl in sunport. Upon the motion,of Mrs. E, Mr Smith. KPcondecl 1)v Mrs. Standish, Mrs. Dockrill was re-elected president. The old committee was re-elected, with power to add.

. Mrs. Newton Kins' moved a hearty .vote of thanks to the retiring president, secretary. and committee. Seconded by Mis-; ■Hempton.'and carried. Dr. AlVn then gave an address on the need for greater care of the bain, a greater suvmly n f fresh air. and more sensible feeding characterising the health of the children as the greatest asset of the nation. The lecture was illustrated wit-It slides, but the slides were none too distinct.

At the conclusion of the address, the chairman invoked the assistance of nil mothers, and renuested that those who had received irlvice during the yonr a>io"' their annreciation ,]iv berominnr v

w»rp apforrlprf to i-h* popiTtnittpp f O ,. ii=p of fiie Ipll, t n Mr. \iynn for the use of ivs Tnntern, (-o M r . Brooks for oneratiTiT H. ntid to AT l '. for connecting it up with olofitvicnl astern. Unon thp niot'on of "Mr. F. 0. ,T. Boil>er. n vote of t.Tptiks wntj nncqprl to rti- 4ii„ n f nr a i t i p nJlfl ;r, s t Tl , P ).ive address.

A pnrtvilinipnf f"0 ATr Ofrev for t)rp?"linor' oonpludod .the mPetirnr.