In declaring the conference open, the Mayor paid a tribute to a great work carried out by women in connection with the war and the uplifting of women and the preservation of the children's welfare. New Zealand today stood supreme among nations in regard to the birth rate and low mortality, and in the latter connection high praise was due to Dr Truby King.
Dr King gave an address on the care of children. Referring to the infantile mortality in Wellington, he said there was no place in New Zealand where the Plunket Nurses worked more zealously and successfully. The milk supply, however, was generally admitted to be unsatisfactory, and it was pleasing to learn that the municipality was determined to improve the supply. In the 10 years of its existence the Plunket Society had made great progress, and had done fine work. He foresaw wonderful results from the society's work in the next decade. Dr King stressed the importance of proper care during the first five years of a child's life, during which its physical welfare was unalterably moulded. That was the period during which the State should specially see that a child had every chance.
``I have seven brothers at the front, and I am the only brother left out of a family of eight brothers,'' said an appellant at the Military Service Board at Palmerston North. One brother was serving with the New Zealand Forces, one with the Australian troops, and five were in Scottish Regiments. Appellant produced a letter from his parents in Scotland, which contained one from his Majesty the King, congratulating the parents on their family's splendid demonstration of loyalty to their country. The chairman of the board, Mr D. G. A. Cooper remarked that the family's record was a good one, and Captain Walker added that this was only typical of what was happening in Scotland, and the fine response that was being made by Scottish families in the great crisis.
There was much crying and weeping in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on Saturday morning on the part of two young girls, who appeared on charges of being idle and disorderly, in that they had insufficient means of support. Neither accused could summon up nerve to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. The police evidence was to the effect that the two accused were discovered in a house in Majoribanks street, where they were living an immoral life. Letters discovered on the girls were produced in support of this. Both accused tearfully gave evidence. Their parents, they said, lived in Dunedin and Allanton respectively. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., who was on the bench, ordered that they be remanded in the Salvation Army Home until such time as the police could get into communication with their parents.
It is stated that the Main South Road, in the vicinity of Ashburton, is, for motorists fond of ``speeding'', the costliest road in the dominion (says the Guardian). This is due to the vigilance of the inspectors, who make no mistake in prosecuting every motorist who contravenes the by-laws.
A party of three fishing at the mouth of the Opihi caught over 100 eels in one and a-half hours. The eels were all caught in shallow water, and they are very plentiful at this particular place. - ODT, 21.2.1917.
