Saving Cook Is.

Babies.

From Our Oxen Correspondent.

Rarotonga, July 15.

IMPORTANT work proceeding in the medical field at the Cook Islands is that in conection with Child Welfare, or better known as the “Plunkett”

Scheme.

Judge Ayson, the Resident Commis sioner, in his annual report for the last financial year, mentions the progress and happy results already obtained at Rarotonga.

The scheme was launched some twelve months ago by the formation of suitable committees of native women at the different villages and to make the work attractive a white uniform with a mono gram was designed. Preliminary lec tures to the native women folk were delivered by Dr. E. P. Ellison, the chief medical officer for the Group, who in fused life into the movement.

The welfare of native babies and in fants has now become the interest of numerous well-trained welfare workers instead of, as formerly, only the mother’s responsibility. Previously the doctor’s help would be called in at the confinement and the subsequent fate of the child left to itself almost. Up to date, practically all native infants on the island up to about four years of age have been examined and the con dition of each recorded. Henceforth, members of Welfare will lend the ex pectant mother assistance and will fol low up the work of the doctor, keeping in touch with the mother on the one hand and with the doctor on the other.

The percentage of deaths of babies during the past eighteen months has fallen in a remarkable degree and the work of the Child Welfare League, to gether with the Rockefeller Scheme of Sanitation, entitles the local Adminis trator’s office and those primarily assist ing in the work, Dr. Ellison and the Rockefeller Foundation, to very great praise indeed.