RED CROSS SOCIETY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 37, 23 November 1940, Page 6

RED CROSS SOCIETY

THE MID-CANTERBURY CENTRE. COMFORTS FOR SICK SOLDIERS. MANY ACTIVITIES REVIEWED. ' Delegates were present from all parts of the County at a meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Centre for the Red Cross Society yesterday afternoon. As the late Dr. G. I. Miller was patron of the Society,, and as a medical man had its cause close to his heart, it was decided that a donation should be made toward the proposed memorial playground. The amount to be given' was left to Executive, to decide, xlt was announced that the. Mayor (Dr. J. Connor) had consented to. accept the position! of patron. A tribute was paid to the work of Drs. W. R. Ryburn, N. E. H. Fulton, J. Cbnnor, H. S. Rillcliff, Craig 'Brown (Methven) and E. Candy (Rakaia), also to Mrs Connolly (Rakaia) and trained nurses who had • assisted with Red Cross work gratuitously since the outbreak of war.

It was decided, in view of the fact that four members were required for the Dominion V.A.D. Council, to nominate Mesdames.J. H. M. Tripp (Geraldine),'R. D. King (Timaru), F. Curtis (Ashburton) and Miss Havelaar (Christchurch). Advice was received that a meeting of the Dominion Council of the Red Cross Society would be held on January 11. Ome member of the Executive will attend.

It was agreed to join with Waimate and Timaru in contributing to the contents of Christmas parcels which will be sent to each soldier patient in military hospitals or convalescent homes in Canterbury. Through a donation of £2 10s from the Ashburton branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union the Mid-Canterbury Centre will be able to contribute its part of the parcels—3o Penguin books. Special thanks were extended to members of sub-centres, the Women’s Institute and Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union for ‘ their continued support, particularly with, the making of children’s clothing. ; Support was given to a request from the North Canterbury Centre that in every third week of the month the Mid-Canterbury Centre should provide comforts for soldier patients in hospital in Canterbury. It was decided that sub-centres should each be responsible for one period and the comforts should be all forwarded to headquarters in Christchurch, for distribution.

Information was received showing that up toi the end of April £13,672 6s 9d had' been expended! from the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund in supplying medical comforts in New Zealand, and £43,500 had been remitted to be dispensed by the Joint Council of the Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance for medical relief of troops and air-raid sufferers in the United Kingdom. Advice was received that the Joint Council had agreed to co-operate with the Director-General of Medical Services to supply comforts to each transport carrying airmen under the Empire air training scheme. It was stated that no sub-centre should hold 1 an effort for its own funds until after January 1, in view of the present appeal. It was announced that a. leettire to the Voluntary Aid Division on Air Raid Precaution work would be given by a medical officer on December 11. It was agreed to establish, a class for both men and women in A.R-.P. work immediately after the New Year.