MONTHLY MEETING

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21582, 19 November 1941, Page 3

MONTHLY MEETING

HAMILTON PLUNKET SOCIETY The monthly meeting of the Hamilton branch of the Plunket Society was held in the rooms recently, the president, Mrs N. E. Blomfield, presiding. The nurses’ reports were received and read, giving the following figures:—At the Hamilton branch visits to rooms were: Adults 884, babies 865, children 39, total 1788; new cases, 19. Te Mata: Adults 8, babies 8, total 16; new cases, 1. Raglan: Adults 8, babies 10, total 18. Cambridge sub-branch: Adults 232, babies 212, children 28, total 472; new cases, 10. Following these reports the president dealt with the general business of the meeting. She regretted having to inform the committee of the resignations of Nurse E. Mackay, the charge nurse at the Hamilton rooms, who had left to be married, and Miss E. Ansenne. the secretary, who had left Hamilton to ieside in Auckland. It was decided to send letters of appreciation, thanking them for their services and wishing them every happiness in their new spheres of life. Nurse Harnett, of Thames, has been appointed to take Nurse Mackay’s place at the rooms. Mrs Ewart Brown, president of the Frankton reported that on Cower day in Frankton £2O 15s was raised. This was a very gratifying effort. They are now busy with a queen carnival which they hope to make a great success. Report of Conference Mrs Blomfield gave an interesting report of the general conference and Dominion council meeting held in Wellington in October. These conferences, said Mrs Blomfield. are an

f inspiration to all who attend them j and one comes back full of renewed ! vigour to help further the work of j the great Sir Truby King, who real- ; ised how vitally important were the mothers and babies to the nation. ; The Government wishes that the ! work of the society could be applied j to a larger percentage of homes in j the Dominion, said Mrs Blomfield, ; for it was stated at the conference Jby Mr Armstrong, Minister of I Housing, that 49 per cent of the j married people of New Zealand had ino children. 19 per cent only one. j and 15 per cent only two. These j figures give pause to think, and at once it ?s evident that this is a very serious state of affairs for New Zealand. This is an ideal land for babies —a land of sunshine, fresh air j and good food —and it is to be hoped that the position will greatly improve within the next few years. At the conference Dr. Helen i Deem, medical adviser to the Plunj ket Society, outlined the steps that S had been taken by the society to co-operate in the general Emergency • Precautions Scheme, and reported | that to date 2173 women, who are known as “Plunket Aids’* have taken ] a course of lectures which was prepared at head office, Dunedin.