A NATIONAL ASSET.

Wairarapa Age, 8 March 1927, Page 5

A NATIONAL ASSET.

KARITANE HOME OPENED BY DUCHESS OF YORK.

SIR TRUBY KING’S GREAT WORK. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, March 7. In the presence of a distinguished gathering, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York to-day opened the new Truby King Karitane Home cn Melrose heights. With the weather at its best, it was a picturesque scene and the Duchess was deeply impressed with all she

saw. After a tour of inspection through the hospital, the Duchess went up to Sir Truby King’s home, and while there saw a small kindergarten which Miss King and Miss Marjory Black have been running for some time past. She was much interested in the work of the little ones, who were quite at home with (heir Royal visitor, and was heard to remark: "I’ve seen such lovely babies here,” but perhaps there were thoughts just then of another little baby—a little Elizabeth—far away in the Queen’s good care.

Her Royal Highness was received by Sir Truby King, Lady Hosking and Mr S. Kirkcaldie (chairman of the Citizens’ Committee) and a number of Karitane nurses formed a fitting guard of honour. Those present included: The Chief Justice (Sir Charles Skerrett), Sir Frederick Chapman, the Hon G. J. Anderson, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, the Hon. O. J. Hawken, the Hon K. 8. Williams, the Hon. It. F. Bollard, the Hon. W. Nosworthy. the Hon. J. A. Young, the Hon. R. A. Wright, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, the Mayor (Mr. C. B. Norwood), Mr. A. Gray, K.C., Mr. M. Myers, K.C., and manv others. A SPLENDID ORGANISATION.

Addressing Her Royal Highness, and expressing the citizens’ pleasure on her consenting to open the institution, Mr. Kirkcaldie said: "Among the many splendid organisations tvc have 'to-day. whose aim and idnal it is to further the health and prosperity of the nation, the Plunket Society (founded by Sir Truby King and his wife) must surely rank as a great national asset. The building which we will presently ask Your Royal Highness to declare open has been designed for the purpose of affording adequate accommodation for those wcmen who desire to train and qualify as Karitane nurses on the lines laid down by Sir Trh'by King. It. is pleasing to be able to inform you that the whole of the accommodation fer trainees will be immediately availed of, and that a long list of aspirants for training conclusively proves the interest that the young women of this Dominion are taking in this important and very necessary profession. It is true that the race marches on the feet of little children, and Sir Truby King, recognising this, aimed at the highest point of national happiness and prosperity wHen he made the establishment and maintenance of the health of mother and child his life’s work. A NOTABLE BEGINNING.

"It is now twenty years ago that Dr. Truby King found three tiny babies neglected and dying in a dark lean-to attached to a licensed home for the care of infants in Dunedin. His wife willingly accepted the responsibility of their care, and her devoted mothering and the doctor’s skill won life and eventually health for these unfortunate little ones. They throve under the cure and supervision of the [doctor, and so began one of the finest societies of the world—a small beginning calling human sympathy and skill to bear on a need that struck at the very root of our national life, the welfare of little children. ’ Twenty years ago, before this great work commences, baby lives were being lost in New Zealand* at the terrible rate of 75 per 1000 babies. By the official figures for last year, the percentage of infantile deaths was reduced to 39.9 per thousand births. To provide the necessary number of nurses required, the Karitane hospitals in New Zealand have been established to provide for the adequate training of tlrese nurses. Mainly has the generosity and enthusiasm of Sir Truby King made this possible, for it is he who, when it became finally essential that a proper home be built in Wellington, came forward at once with the offer of this splendid site. TREMENDOUS GROWTH. "'Some idea of the tremendous growth of this work may be gauged from He fact that during last year 21,577 visits were paid by mothers to Plunket branches, and 18,535 babies came under the care of ’the nurses of the Plunket Society. I have now pleasure in handing you this gold key, which has been presented by the contractors for the building, and to ask y°Y ip turn the lock and declare the building ‘open.’ Having done so, I would ask you to kindly release the flag which covers, the stone recording the fact that this building was opened on March 7, 1927, by Your Royal Highness.”

THE DUCHESS’S COMPLIMENTS. Her Royal Highness then formally declared the home open, and expressed her pleasure at being asked to perform the ceremony. In a few brief words to Sir Truby King, she complimented him on his great work. The Duchess then opened the main door with a gold key, and the official party made a tour of inspection of the Home, Her Royal Highness again complimenting Sir Truby and the members of the committee on the valuable work which had been accomplished in so short a time. The Duchess also consented to make a brief appearance on the balcony overlooking the Heads, and from this point she was given a rousing reception by the large crowd. This she graciously acknowledged. A. visit was then paid to Sir Truby King’s home, where the Duchess was able to see something of the work being accomplished. She visited one of the classes at work, and engaged in conversation with the children for a few minutes, showing a keen interest in their work. As she left the home, the Duchess was again hailed with joy by the large crowd which lined the road.—(P.A.)