RED CROSS WORK

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16359, 2 November 1918, Page 5

RED CROSS WORK

XO -, niE EDITOR OF "THE TRESS." Sir.-I was glad to read a letter .signed "Vox Populi" in this mornings paper. Your correspondent refers 10 the needs of our returning men. 1 believe this is the only centre which has no hostel or Red Cross Home for bojs attending the hospital as out-paticiits Latelv a special collection t\lolot- Day j was taken in the streets by which a 1.-irge sum of money was received from tho public to start a- Convalescent Homo in the city. Since then nothing mote appears to be happening with regard to it. Is Cho executive shelving this much-needed Home? Boys who nry more or less invalids need looking after, and the best food and comfort procurable. 1 understand that two years »go tho Women's Reserve approached the Red Cross Committee with- n. view to establishing such a Home, not being; in a position financially to do it-alone. It was turned down by tho Red Cross Committee. Meanwhile the needs have j become greater, and still there is no i Home. We hear oh oil sides ho\y the work of the Red Grogs has gone dow;i, j and it wotikl bo interesting to have a , comparative statement of balance-; .sheets —this year's and last year fc—- > published in your paper for tho oral- ; nrtrv contributor to read. ■ Hundreds ot ; workers had orders to cease, making i bandages nnd swabs, ostensibly because of. the lack of shipping space; at same time we nre informed that extiri space for Red Ctoss has been granted. It cannot be urged that this class or work -is not needed. 1 liavo beside mas I write a recent printed list of the reouirements »of British Red Cross Joint War Committee. London. Alter begging all workers to increase- then efforts, it says: "All warm hospital clothing of every kind, both for officers and men, is needed, and all comforts, bandages, and surgical dressings aro required." Further on it gives a Jist of things required urgently: "Various garments (enumerated), bottle-covers, slings, all woollen comforts, gloves, cardigans, etc., and gauze dressings or all kinds. Hat gauze swabs, puff swabs, flannel rollers, white calico bandftges* and open-wove bandages in all widths, otc.. ctc." Is it that our peoplo are relaxing their efforts? I implore-them not to do so. Tho war is not over yet-, and Red Cross work will be wanted long after pencc is declared. "We used to be proud of tho fact that our Centre did j 75 per cent, of tho Red Cross work of i New Zealand. It would be interesting to know the percentage now. —lours, | SUBSCRIBER. | October 30th.

Mr J. A. Flesher, cliaiman of tho executive of the Red Cross, was asked to make a statement regarding tho above letter. Respecting the proposed Convalescent Home for soldiers who aro undergoing out-patient treatment at tli© Hospital, Mr Flesher said that at present matters were in suspense chiefly owing to the difficulties experienced :n securing suitable premises. The Red Cross never proposed to build, or to purchase premises, but contemplated leasing a suitable property near tho Hospital, and either on a. tramline or adjacent to one. Although the Red Cross had advertised inviting offers from owners of buildings considered suitable, and though independent enquiries had been made and several buildings had been inspected, they had been unable to obtain premises that would be suitable for tho purpose. It was not a question of the executive shelving the matter, but of their inability, so far, to get a suitable building. *Mr Flesher added that if "Subscriber" knew of any building that would bo suitable for the purpose, the executive would he glad if no would let them know about it. A s <o the report and balance-sheet, Mr Flesher eaid that these documents, dealing with the operations of tho Red Cross to March •Jisfc last, were ready.for the printer, and would be published very soon. Respecting "Subscriber's" statements about the Red Cross relaxing its efforts m connexion with supplies of goods and comforts, .Mr Flesher referred the reporter to Mrs H. F. Wigram, who said that tho women's branch had been asked so specially •to provide woollen and warm goods that they felt that their efforts ought to be confined almost entire! vto doing so. That was being done with, the view of providing such goods for our men for the coming winter. From ' authoritative sources they had been informed that all cotton poods could be more economically produced in the British Isles, and that no difficulty had been experienced, so far, in getting supplies of such gooas in the United Kingdom. Referring to the suggestion made by "Subscriber" that Red Cross workers were relaxing their efforts, Mrs Wigram warmly controverted this, and said that they were not doing so, but their efforts were being directed into the most useful channels. When the balance-sheet was published •it would show that so far from there having b«en any relaxation, there had been an increase in the work done, though in some directions it had decreased. Referring to the question of shipments, Mr a Wigram said that tho uncertainty in connexion with shipping between the Dominion and the British Isles had affected, and does affect, tho Red Cross as much as it affected others desirous of obtaining shipping space; but whenever tho authorities had granted tlio Red Cross space for its goods, those opportunities had been taken advantage of forthwith.