The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-04-04
New Zealand Specialist
Tells How Children Thrive
When Given Proper Start
Must Teach Mothers Best
Methods
By DIR. u. TRULY KING
Worlds Foremost baby Saving
Expert


Worlds Foremost baby Saving
Expert.
when tho menace 10 our national
existence which | described In my
preceding article first net me at work
seeking "a remedy. | realized that the
crus OF tho problem lay In the health
Of our babies.
Special study and an intimate In
torcst In farm and garden crops
had long since taught me that ev.
orything depends upon the care OF
the young plant. n the nursery IN
sood-if the seed has the right start.
N tho tender young plant IL given
proper cnre--a sturdy crop ~ sure
under reasonable conditions as 20
soil and climate. The stock raiser
Will tell you the Same thing.
The prenatal period. and the first
four or five months OF the calfH
life after birth. determine tn. whole
future. and the best aftercare and
attention will fall 20 make good
beast out OF one that has been bad
ly treated before and Immediately
after birth. But with healthy.
well cared-for young animal you are
sure OF III and valuable member
OF tho herd-Huch animals can fend
for themselves for the rest OF their
lives and neither defect OF growth
nor disease will be feared.
Rest Nearly Certain
The same thing In true Of babies
Gives them the right start and the
rest IN practically certain. But the
knowledge which tho world waa be.
coming wise enough 10 apply 10 ngri-
culture and stock raising had hardly
been applied at all In connection
with this most valuable crop IN the
world-our babies.
When about ~ years ago began
publicly 20 proclaim these truths
thruout New Zealand was often
met with the assertion that we need
not take the situation no seriously
In our country. We already had
one OF the lowest child death rates
In tho world. Lot other countries.
where infant mortality was high
take up the problem. was told. nj
need not worry un here. But I an.
swcrcd. no child death rate can be
too low. and I added that any death
rate ut all over per cent In too
high.
Pleaded for knowledge
And my plea was that a widely DIFF
fused knowledge and recognition Of
infant requirements and maternal
duties would save our country at
least one life day. This figure
has proved Co be much under the
mark. But out Of New Zcaland'r
then population Of 1000 900 surely
the saving OF even one life day was
well worth while.
Gradually the most able and
oarnen, people OF the community raj
lied to our cause. Lord and Lady
Plunke,. Lord Piunkct then being
governor OF New Zealand. lent us
their hearty support. issuing a
pamphlet In which they appealed
20 all classes TO join In the society's
work for the sake OF women and
children. for tho advancement Of the
Dominion. and for tho honor OF the
empire"
Formed Societies
Thus our Society for the Health
OF Women and Children was launch.
ed. Lady Piunket Identified herself
with the cause in the most whole
hearted and practical way. giving
lectures. demonstrations and person.
al help to mothers and babies. In
appreciation Of her work the nurses
Of the society are Htill known as
'Piunket nurses" and the short title
OF our Royal New Zealand Society
for the Health OF Women and Chill
drcn In simply tho "Piunkct Soci-
city"
From tho start IL was essentially
n volunteer organization. but the SO
cicty soon received the cordial sup
port and cooperation of the govern.
mcnt and OF the municipalities, who.
for instance. granted US the use OF
rooms in public buildings for our
meetings and for the use Of our
nurses.
The government also saw that
they had free passage over the rail
ways and street car lines. As gov.
eminent official as well as president
81 tho society | served as sort OF
Inspector general. linking the two
together.
Government Helpful
In recognition of the society's
vital services TO the community. the
government soon began 20 grant Il
small subsidies towards the salaries
and expenses Of the nurses. and in
tho course OF the last 10 years these
subsidies have grown from n mod.
est 25 per cent on the volunteer
subscriptions to the present rate of
100 per cent--or I'm United States
currency to Sc OF subsidy for every
s. raised by voluntary subscription.
Thus 1t viii he seen that our first
and most necessary step In New
Zealand's historic baby saving cam.
palgn consisted in attaining the in.
Innate and closest cooperation OF
all classes in the community and OF
the government.
EDITORS NoTE-In the fore
going article DIR. King tells OF the
inception OF baby saving in New
Zealand. In third article tomorrow
he will explain in detail tho present
scope and methods OF tho society
which IL giving New Zealand the
worlds lowest child death ratel
BELIEVE KAISER WAR
MAP TAKEN FROM HUN
AGENT IN CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES. April 4.-That
they have one OF tho kaiser's i'm
portant maps showing. among other