ACTIVE YEAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 170, 30 April 1943, Page 4

ACTIVE YEAR

ASHBURTON RED GROSS CENTRE REVIEW AT ANNUAL MEETING THE FINANCIAL POSITION. A year of great activity was reviewed in the report presented to the annual meeting of the Mid-Canterbury centre of the Red Cross Society held this afternoon. Sir Hugh Aclafid, of Christchurch, was, the principal -speaker. The report stated that interest in all sections of the organisation’s activities was. well maintained during the year. Lack of transport proved a deterrent for many people who would otherwise have attended first-aid, home nursing and hygiene and sanitation classes held in some sub-centres. Moreover, increased demands -through military and other duties made it impossible fbr doctors to attend outlying districts and conduct classes. Accordingly the assistance of the Oil Fuel Controller was sought and permission was granted for members of Emergency Precautions Services posts and Voluntary Aids to be brought into Ashburton, where lecturers were provided by the local branch of the British Medical Association, including M&thven and Rakaia.

Mrs F. Curfis, Centre Commandant 'of the Voluntary Aid Detachment Committee, who had been elected to the Dominion Council, attended two 'meetings held at Wellington, and was honoured with the other officer present (Mrs N. Cornish) in being presented with officers and members of Red ’Cross Executives to their Excellencies Sir Cyril and Lady Newell at the annual inspection held at Government House.

Five Voluntary Aids volunteered for. overseas service and of these, two were proceeding to duty and two were awaiting instructipns. Every available Voluntary Aid' and nursing domestic was called for service fpr duty at emergency hospitals both at Ashburton and Christchurch, and letters of appreciation of their help were received from the hospital authorities. Voluntary Aids from Mid-Canterbury were on duty in hospitals as far away as Wellington. The Executive expressed thanks, to employers, of Voluntary Aids, who at very short; nqtipe, re; leased them for hospital, service. During the year there was the fulv lest possible co-operation with the St. John Ambulance Association and all trains carrying sick and wp.updsd. soldiers which passed through Ashburton were met and comforts, banded out to the passengers. ••••>••_ Members from all oyer , the county knitted garments and made quilts, pyjamas, dressing: gowns, first aid outfits and hospital requisites from material supplied through the Joint Council and Red Cross Society. Pleasure was expressed at the decision of the National Patriotic Council to allow the joint Council of the Order of St. John and th.e ,Red Cross Society to raise funds for sick and, wounded and prisoners-of-war funds. This work made a special appeal to members and some sub-centres, bad already contributed to the quota. A credit balance of £232 15s 4d was revealed by the balance sheet. On the expenditure side the biggest items were as following, the figures, given to the nearest £:— Hospital, equipment, £3O; tea, cakes, cigarettes, and tobacco for soldiers’ canteen, £ 17; New Zealand Headquarters levy, £7B; relief of disaster, £l3; spinal chair, £ 36. Many other small, items, went to make up the total of £222. In. income, which totalled £528, the biggest item by far was donations, which amounted to £174: •

Officers elected were: —Patron, Dr. J. Connor; Patroness, Mrs J. Connor; Patron of the Junior Red Cross, Dr, W. G. Todd; Chairman, Mrs F. Curtis; vice-presidents, Mesdames J. H. Grigs, C. W. Anderson) and W. H. Mulligan; secretary, Mrs J. Bennett; treasurer, Mr R. C. Major; executive, Mesdames W. H. Dellow, and I. Jackman; representatives to the Dominion Council, the chairman and secretary.

The Chairman (Mrs F. Curtis) presided.