PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1926, Page 8

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

\F\V ROOMS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY JION, J. A. YOF.NO.

Tekapo Buildings were the scene ol an iutorwting little ceremony on Saturday afternoon, when the Munster ol Health (Hon. J. A. Young), accompanied by Dr. Sir Trubv Jung, officially opened the Timarn Plunket Society s new rooms, which are situated at the western end of Ike third floor of the buildings named. . The rooms, which are spacious, well lighted and ventilated, and as clean and fresh in appearance as new paint, were prettily decorated for the occasion and in one of them diiiut\ alteinoon. tea was set out. There was a laVge attendance, and the president (Mrs J R. Newman) presided, supported by the Mayor of Timaru (Mr G. J. Wallace). . His - Worship extended a hearty welcome to the Minister, on this, his first official visit to Timaru, and said they took it as an honour that lie had come from Wellington to be with them .that day for the special purpose of opening tbi; new rooms. The Mayor went on to speak of the good Work of the Society, and said' that good health was oven more essential than good - education.Ho mentioned that the Timaru Borough Council has a vacant section in the' Arcade, adjoining the Ladies’ Rest, which would be an ideal location for Pinnkct rooms, and if the Government would erect a building on it, or subsidise its erection, the Borough Council would make a. present of the site to the lTunket. Society. (Applause.) The Hon. J. A. Young acknowledged the Mayor’s welcome, and said he was very glad to bo with them that day. 'Hiis was not the first occasion on which he bad visited Timaru; on previous occasions he had been here on holiday, and since ids last visit, eight-years .ago. lie had not forgotten the charming begonias iu Timaru Park. With regard to the Mayor’s suggestion that the Government might subsidise the erection of rooms for the piunkot Society in Timaru, the Minister said be was delighted to hear of the offer of a free .site, but the matter of a Government subsidy for buildings would have to be looked into. 'I he Department subsidised baby hospitals throughout the country, but it had not vet subsidised Plunket Society rooms. The Piunkot Society had started its work on a voluntary basis, and bad been helped by the Government and municipalities, but- a subsidy had not so far been given for rooms; however, the matter would have his careful consideration. Air Young went on to speak in the highest terms of praise of the great and noble work of Dr. Sir Tnibv King and his coadjutors, and said that it was owing to this work that the infanti'o mortality in New Zealand had been reduced, until now it was the lowest, in the world. (Applause.) As evidence of the interest of the Prime Minister in this work, Air A'oung mentioned that at a Cabinet meeting last- week when the expenditure of a sum of £5500 in connection with Plunket work, came up for discussion, Air Coates remarked: “That item is all right ; it is approved.” (Applause.) The Minister went on to sav that sell reliance was one of the guiding principals on which the Plunket Society had been started, and lie did not want to see that undermined. Tn his home town (Hamilton), they were that week making an appeal for £I2OO tor Piunkot work. Tt was more important that thov should have a healthy eomnr,unity than that thov should tax the people to build hospitals, sanatoria, and other similar institutions. (Hew, hear.) The great majority of infantile deaths were caused through lack of knowledge, and it was to dispel this- ignorance that the Plunket Society existed. The doors of the Society were open to both rick and poor—and the ignorance to which he had referred (ignorance of how best to earc for the voting life), was by no means confined to the poor. The Aiinistor dealt in detail with the work of the Plunket Soe’et.v, which lie described as human 'jf%riaif and liob'e. and said that it should receive the wholehearted support of the community. The public would have to change their attitude towards the medical profession, and learn that it is better_to go to tne doctor periodically, when in health, in order to keep well, than to wait till thov were sick. There was a worldwide movement along the lino of preventive medicine, as distinguished from curative medicine; and there was a groat field for research to-day in what was known as the causation of sickness. Once thov were aide to discover the cause of their bodily troubles, thov would be able to secure good health. It was a mistake to suppose that baby hospitals were for the cure of disease — they were places for the treatment ol errors in diet. T hoy knew that they should keep as close to Nature as possible, and through bis research. Dr. Sir Trubv Ring bad discovered the next best treatment, with what, good results they all knew. (Applause.) Tn Tinnaru they had their beaches, gardens, and fine open spaces, and it. was apparent that the municipality recognised what an aid to good health these were. Tl'.ev would never ho aide to do without hospitals, but th.ev could lessen the necessity for them. _ In conclusion, the Alimster apologise.-! for the unavoidable _ absence at the function that lav, ot the Hon. 1 ! . J. Rolle.ston. who, lie said, would most eertainlv have been wiih them, if he could have got away from his duties in AVelliiigtou. but be bail had to remain behind in order to present the trophies won at Trenthain —a duty wlrcli was always performed by the Minister ot Defence. Air Young congratulated the Timaru Plunket Society on the spirit and enterprise it had shown, as we I as on the excellent work it was doing, and said that he lmd very great pleasure in declaring its new rooms open. (Applause.) .Dr. Sir Trubv King expressed lus great appreeiat'on of the privilege ot being present that day. and offered bis eoinmntubitions to all Plunket workers here. He was delighted to sec that at least some of those who were associated with the movement when it first started, were still r/t the head ol affairs, and in this connection he mentioned the president (Airs J. P. Newman), and Airs L. S. Talbot, who. with others, had shown a very deep interest in the work of tin- Society, and were deserving of the best thanks of the community.' (Applause i When the Plunket movement first started, it- was not so pouti’e.r as it was to-day ; some poonli■ were not at first sure whether it was eoing to he a succeso, and all the mnre~'credil was due to those who bud stuck to it right through. Sir Truby referred to the Hon. -T. A. A’oiing as one who had done great war); for the Plunket Society, in which lie bad always been interested, and said that New Zealand was fortunate in having such a gentleman as Alinister of Hi';; If h.

AYith regard to what the Mavor of Timaru bad said in regard to the offer of ;» site for Plunket rooms. Sir Trilby said ho felt extremely grateful for this, as it was an indication of a recognition of the value of the work of the Society. and of a willingness to support it. He felt satisfied that such peruninrv support would be more and more forthcoming in Now Zoakiud. The (iovermnent and the local authorities had done a great deal for them in New Zealand, and tliev were now doing the same in other parts of tin* eivihsed world. A leading authoritv in America hud recently said that there was a growing recognition on the part of local authorities, of ihe fact Hint it was their duty to ass st in throwing a .safeguard and a shield around nuiHe'ic in the interests of the future ol the race. Sir Truby went on to praise the organisation and work of the l'lunkei Society in Timaru, and said it was very erntifving to him to (in i the work going on ho well hero. He thanked them

for tbe sacrifice* they hod made m divine up. ter a lamer snhoro of servin', Nurse Campbell end Mi's Gillespie. and promised to do all be could to compensate for tins bv sondiiej; diem the best substitute lie could net to assist the present Nurse here. Tie bad spent a verv happy three hours in Tininin that. 'day. and amomist other tbines bad learned from tbe Park Curator all about “the -we . ml feeding of the vomi" beeonia” (laujibter'). He was sorry that be could not be with them longer, but be liad to leave that afternoon for Dunedin 111 proposine- a. heart v \ ote of tliank* to Sir Trnbv Kinu and the Hon. .7. A. Youim, Air C. S. Crav paid a warm, tribute to tbe work of those ;.toutlenum as well as to Plunket, Society workers in ;enera', and expressed the hope that this work would he continued ps it liad been betiun —by voluntary effort. (Applause 1 All's Newman also thanked the visitors for their presence and invited all to afternoon lea before L bey left. Congratulatory telegrams and apologies were received from tbe Hon. F. .T. and Airs Kolleston. Miss Pal trick (Director of Plunket Nurses). Airs P. 11. Denham (Pleasant Point), and from the Rev. Father Hurley.