A NOBLE WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1922, Page 6

A NOBLE WORK.

SAVING THE INFANTS NEW ZEALAND’S FINE RESULTS. In a lecture at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Branch of the Royal New- Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, Dr. Truby King said he was firmly of opinion that one plunket nurse in her daily round was doing much better work than he was doing as head of the Seacliff Mental Hospital, which cost the Government £lOO,OOO a year, whereas the whole subsidy paid by the Government to the society amounted to £lO,OOO. He considered the record of the Christchurch Kaitane Home marvellous. Of 113 children admitted during the twelve months ended March 31 seven had died. Four of these had weighed under 2£lb" when admitted. The death rate was high owing to the numb'er of premature cases About 1500 babies out of 10,000 born in the Dominion each year died at an early age, which workled out at the rate of five per 100. Of ! these no fewer than 1000 died in the , first month, and the remainder in the last eleven months. As showing the difference between the ratio of deaths among children in New Zealand and in the United States, in the eleven months following the first after which a child was born* three times as many died in America as in this Dominion. In the second month after birth 90 would die in New Zealand and 270 in America; in the third month 50 and 150 respectively; and in the twelfth month two as against six'. There was no reason why in another five years, with the progress being made to-day, infant mortality in New Zealand should not ;be reduced from 1500 to 1000, equalling 3 instead of 5 pdr cent. Dr. Neil Guthrie, in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. Truby King, said he was a great admirer of the movement and of the genius of Dr. King. All over the world to-day the movement was gaining, and in all places where it had gained a footing it was found that Dr. King had been associated with it. On a trip back to New Zealand from Great Britain some time ago the speaker was able to be of assistance to immigrants wit'll their children who travelled in the vessel with him, arid he found that the knowledge he had gained on the subject from Dr. King was invaluable to him. Without complaining of? shipping companies engaged in transporting immigrants to the Dominion, he was of opinion that better facilities should be provided for mothers bringing young children out with them. No thanks could be too much for Dr. King for the noble work he was engaged in.