Evening journal., 1918-04-05
BY DIR. n TRraY KING


Worlds Foremost Baby Saving Expert.
Baby-saving work n New 1easuud.
by which the infantile mortality has
been reduced 10 so low rate. has
grown from very humble origins We
started our campaign win a nurse and
: telephone. This was between 10 and
i3 years ago. Our aim was simply
% make accessible TO all mothers ne d
ing advice nurses specially ana auth
oritatlvely trained IN the essentials foV
lhe health Of mother and child To
get such a nurse In every household
where there were babies was our
ultimate goal This nurse was intend
I'd TO do away with the traditional
handing on Of error from generation
30 generation, by supersedng mere
guidance OF the grandmother or other
Well-meaning relation or friends. The
nurse was TO give to mothers Of all
classes. especially 90 the young wife
struggling with the problems OF rear
Ing her FIRST child, the reliable help
snd guidance that can be supplied as
the outcome OF what has been definite
ly arrived at as the best course %
pursue.
The success OF the flrst nurse led to
the forming OF a committee 10 carry
on the work and 10 extend it. Intelll-
gent. public-spiritcd people Of all
.lasses co-operated and the organiza-
lion received the ardent ard whole
hearted support and help Of Lord and
Lady plunket, Lord Plunket being
hen governor Of New Zealand. This
was A years ago We had a certain
measure OF medical support from the
beginning. and as tho work made good
othcr doctors md dentists lent help
ing hand, including most OF our uni
Tersity professors. Thus the spread
u the movement became consistent and
Iteady throughout the country.
Branch societies were formed in
very community az reasonable size,
hese branches consisting OF from 70
10 25 OF the most able and intelligent
representative women rrom every class.
There are now between 20 and 50 OF
.hese branch committees. and with the
ln~scs attached to them, known ae
'Plunket Nurses" they cover the dis
ricts In which they a-e situated How
ver. the salaried officers Of the so
,iety form only a small portion OF It's
workers Many members give their
.ime their money, and, best or all
themselves TO The cause OF mother and
shild, and by ihis most potent Of all
means contribute 10 the maintenance
Of health and the prevention or dis
ease. The nurses cover the assigned
district. not only attending 20 mothers
Nho visit conveniently situated plum
ket Rooms" Ia have their babies
weighed, ETC., Snd visiting them regu-
larly In their homes, but also hold
Ing meetings from time 20 time ant
giving demonstrations or child care
ln addition It Is The duty OF each nurse
20 keep In touch by correspondence,
with inCuirng mothers. especial!
those who live IN tie more inacces
s'ble parts Of the country. Every wo
man In a district Is entitled 10 the ser
Vice or one Of these nurses wlthou
charge. but contributions towards The
Iocieiy's funds are always welcome.
One Of our frst steps was % fount
! baby hospital at Dunedin-the medi
cal center for our university.
This hospital Is mainly an educa
tional center playing, o. tourse, 81
important role in the direct saving o
child life. but intended broldley 4
serve as q training center not onl,
for Plunket Nurses but also for th
teaching OF medical and domestic sci
snce students and for educating III
public who are encouraged TO visit n
Institution. Visitors receive every at
leniion from the nurses.
Finally, we have brought into on
service every means or printed publ
city available for the work Of educa
tlon In mothercraft. For Il years tn
society has had one definite. consistent
authoritative weekly column, "Ou
Bab.,s." published in leading news
rancrs thr0uChOuf New Zealand.
this column questions are solicited an
answered, and Information concernin
maternal and infant hygiene Is giveI
We give advice about the. preventio
Of disease but we do not enter int
questions OF treatment which woul