RED CROSS SOCIETY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 60, 8 September 1939, Page 5

RED CROSS SOCIETY

WHAKATANE BRANCH FORMED 1 v. ■■ • ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS ENROLLED • A crowded meeting of ladies attended the first efiort to form a Whakatane branch of the Red Cross Society. The meeting was convened by the Mayor. Mr B. S. Barry and took place in the Borough Council Chambers. Mr Ira J. Bridgcr ? director of the movement in New Zealand addressed those present with the result that it was decided to form a branch forthwith, and to enlist the services of as many local ladies as possible. ( A general committee comprising! all present was appointed, which will be answerable to a central executive of which the Mayor is chairman. Mr Bridger stated that the Red Cross was now recognised as theSymbol of Compassion throughout the world, the fundamental idea being readiness to serve the sick and and preparedness for sev_ vice in peace or war. HISTORY OF MOVEMENT. "Florence Nightingale led the way by her fine example," said Mr Bridger. "The actual originator of th© movement was a Genevese citizen named Henry Dunant, Who had been profoundly moved by the sufferings of the wounded whom he had seen on the battlefields of Solferino in 1859_ Avith no person or organisation to look after them, embarked on a campaign which led to the formation in 1883 of a committee of the suffering of wounded soldiers in time of war, and eventually secured the signature by the principal states of the world at the Geneva Convention of

1864, which, revised in 1906. constitutes the basis of the code of civilised warfare of to-day. The prirhary purpose of the National Red Cross Societies which have arisen since 1864 in nearly all civil--ised countries has been, until 1.919. to care for the siclt t wounded, and prisoners of armies and navies in time of war. SIXTY . NATIONAL . BRANCHES In 1919, on the initiation of Mr Henry P. Davidson. Chairman of the War Council of the American Red Cross, the Red Cross Societies of tlie ; United States. .France, Great Britain, Italv and Japan founded the League of Red Cross Societies. The purpose of the League, which to.day comprises GO National Red Cross Societies, is to maintain in time of peace the enthusiasm and devotion displayed during the war by the National Societies in the relief of human suffering. and to utilise this great force for the following purposes, as set down in the Articles of Association of the League. It shall: (1). Encourage and nromote in rverv country the establishment and development of a. duly authorised voluntary National Red Cross organisation, working in accord with .the principles of the Geneva Convention

(2). Collaborate with other organisations in the improvement of health the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering. (3). Place within the reach of all peoples the benefits to be derived from present known facts and new contributions to science and medical knowledge and their application. (4). Furnish a medium for co-op-erating with national Red Cross Societies in promoting, and co-ordinating relief work in case of national and international calamities or disasters. The New Zealand Red Cross Society desirous of training thousands of both men and women in first aid, home nursing and hygiene so as to be ready at all times to. despatch a ! contingent of trained personnel to render service to people in the event of epidemics, disasters, or war. In order to do this it is necessary to create the necessary organisation through which people will be trained for such service. At the conclusion, of the address, the following officers and committee were appointed:— President, Mr B. S. Barry. Vice-Presidents Dr Mesdamcs A. W. Fl"tr-he<-_Cole, L. B. Savage, W. A. L. W. Luxton. Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs D. Pearse. Executive: B. S. Barry, S. S. Shaplev W. S-'liivan, C. G. Caisley, W. E. B r uU*er, E. Armstrong, F. J. A-n-le'v". T/. Rangi. All persons wr-re np^o : nted to a General comm ittpe