BOON TO DISTRICT

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1940, Page 9

BOON TO DISTRICT

KAI'ONGA'S MEMORIAL pminkkt room opened

Kiilfilling a long fclt want in the liialrjcl Ihe Kaponga centennial mPinnrifil, a women', s rest room and Plunket room, was officially opened yeslerdny before a large crowd by Ihe Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. (i. Sulli van, who deputised for the Minister of Internal Affairs, thc Hon. W. K. Parry, who was dclained at Wellington by presr.ure of business. An apology was roccivcd from Mr. Parry, who wished the gathering every | success, and commcndcd the enterprise of Ihe people of Kaponga and the choice of the memorial, Furnit.ure was given by the Law family, Mr. E. L. Abbott, Miss D. Swadling and Mrs. R. A. Law, each piece bearing a tilver tablet in mernory of pioneer relatives of the donors. A welcome was extended to Mr. Sullivan and the visitors by the chairman of the Kaponga Town Board, Mr. A. R. Bates, who said that he wished to welcome particularly Ihe old identities associated with the development of the district. The erection of the rest room and Plunket room was Kaponga's contribution to (he New Zealand centennial commemorations. Although Kaponga had stood in bush about 50 years ago the people of the town and district felt that they should do something to commemorate Ihe centennial of the Do-

A bouquet was- presented by Miss J. Bates to Mrs. Wilkinson and button holes were presented to Mr. Sullivan and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. Tribule to Committee. Congratulations were extended by Mr. Bates to the people of the district on the way in which they had supported the appeal for funds. the women's institutes and the Plunket Society for the manner with which they had furnished the building and assisted with the collection of funds. He also paid a tribute to the work of the committee and made special reference to the work of the town clsik, Mr. H. H. Elmes, who undertook much of the organisation. "This building cost £550 and we are starting off without a debt," said^ Mr. Bates. Tliis was a fact upon which the district was to i>e congratulated. The assistance of the Government, which provided a subsidy of £180, was also appreciated. Thanks were also due to the architects, Messrs. Duffill and Gibson, and the contractor, Mr. Baden Watson. History of Branch.

"To-day is another epoch in the story of the progress of Kaponga," said Mrs. A. V. Tait, first president of the Kaponga sub-branch of the Plunket Society, who said she had lived 50 years at Kaponga and she was proud of the district from which she had not seen fit to move. The new building would be a great asset to the district. * "The name of Sir Truby King, who can be ranked among New Zealand s two | greatest men, will live among the illustrious names of New Zealand when other names are long forgotten," declared Mrs. Tait, who traced the history of the introduction of the Plunket system to Kaponga b.y Mrs. R. A. Law, who was greatly impressed with what she had seen of it when visiting Hawera. At a public meeting the Hawera branch was represented by Mr. and Mrs. W. Jobson, Mrs. M. J. Goodson, and Nurse Dix. A sub-branch was forrned and affiliated to Hawera, Mrs. Tait being appointed president, a position which she held for 12 years, when the present president, Mrs. E. L. Abbott was appointed. Later Opunake became a branch and Kaponga j came under its direction and the relationship between the two bodies had i been most friendly. "The Plunket Society, which has come to stay in New Zealand, is really _ the premier social service in the Dominion," said Mr. Tait, who congratulated the town board upon its choice of a centennial memorial. "I know this building will fill a long felt want in Ihe district and I wish it every success," said Mrs. E. B, Brewer, president of the Kaponga women's institute. Opunake was proud to have Kaponga associated with it, said Mrs. B. Stevenson, president of the Opunake branch of the Plunket Society. She was impressed with the choice of the memorial, which she thought would be of great assistance to mothers and their children and would enable the nurse to do more efficient work. Now that Kaponga had such a fine building she hoped the people of the district would stand behind the subbranch and assist it with its finances. Branches could not carry on successfully without their progressive lifelines. "Initiative and Enterprise."

"I congratulate Ihe chairman and committee on the initiative and the enterprise they have shown in bringing this memorial to fruition, and I congratulate the people for their enthusiasm in making it an established fact." said Mr. P. Thomson, chairman of the B zone committee of the Taranaki centennial council. He commended the form of the memorial which was for the benefit of the mothers and children of the district. "We wish the committee every success in its venture," said Mr. J. A. Duffill on behalf of the architects and contractor. Mr. Sullivan was welcomed to the electorate by Mr. Wilkinson. who said that the memorial was onc of the finest that could be conceived. It served as a rnark of progress. and the people were to be congratulated on their effort. The speakers, particularly the women, had delivered interesting addresses which gave a very good survey of the service the building could render, said Mr. Sullivan, who paid a tribute to the work of the late Sir Truby King and the magnificent work accomplished by the Plunket Society in reducing the infant mortality rate and so bringing New Zealand before the eyes of the rest of the world.

A Great Service. "Undoubtedly as Mrs. Tait says Sir Truby King can be ranked among the two greatest men in New Zealand. ' said Mr. Sullivan, who added that he had no doubt the other to whom Mrs. Tait referred was Lord Rutherford. The work of Sir Truby King spread throughout the world and many countries had the benefit of the work he did. Thousands of New Zealand women were devoting much time and energy to carrying on the work. and all were proud of their selfsacrifice. Referring to the unavoidable absence of Mr. Parry, Mr. Sullivan said that Mr. Parry was the Minister in charge of centennial celebrations and he greatly regretted not being able to attend the seremony at. Kaponga. "It is "a great t.ragedy that in our cenlennial year when we have reason to be happy and pay a tribute to our pioneers. who left their native land to huild homes in a new land, our Empire should be at war," said Mr. Sullivan. who rcfcrred to the wonderful work achieved by the pioneers and those who followcd them in rlcvcloping the province. They had done their work well. They did all that men and women could do as citizens and farmers to devclop the community life of the country. Too often the part played by the women of the pioneering days

was overlooked. He liked to picture the circumstances and conditions un er which they lived and worked. Spirit of Help to Empire. "I know that just as they played their part so will the same spirit be mamfest throughout the length and breadth of thc country in association with the men and women of other countries, and particularly the men and women of London. as that' spirit will cause our people to give of their utmost to help the Empire to live th rough Ihe greatest though most, dangerous time in its history," said Mr. Sullivan. Britain was the last country to carry the flag of democracy and libcrty and she would carry it to victoiy. "We cannot in this hour forget the ordeal that the people of London are going through," said Mr. Sullivan. Foday men and women are being bombed, he'll has been let loose, but in face of this London is showing great fortitude and we must feel justified _ in paying reverence to such fortitude. Afler Mr. Sullivan declared the building open it was inspected by the public, o]r| identities later being entertained at afternoon tea in the town hall, where the speakers were Mr.. Sullivan, and the general manager of the Railway Department, Mr. E. Casey.