RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16520, 12 May 1919, Page 5

RED CROSS SOCIETY.

ASHBURTON BRANCH. The annual meeting ot too Ashburton branch of tne'fted Ureas {Society was held, on Sanuday afternoon, Mrs It. Ualbraith presiding. A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of tho late Mr C. W. iNicoll. Tie annual report expressed the Society's deep thankfulness at the cessation, of hostilities, and- t&at the boys were now coming home. I'ho Society's activities had not ceased with the signing of the armistice, and qo long as there wore sick and wounded who needed help tlie tjociety'3 work would continue. The chief work of the iSocicty had been the sending away of hospital and otner comforts, hut at present it lay chiefly in helping in every way possible its own. returned men. The, Society desired to placo on record its sincere thanks tor all the help* given by the late Mr C. W. Nicoll, and Asliburton could never forget the debt it owed

to both the late Mr Nicoll and also to Mrs Nicoll (who had acted us treasurer). The special appeals made for blankets during the year had resulted in a response of over .£7OO in money and many pairs of blankets. The special appeal for the Prisoners of War Fond had been taken up by a Men's Committee, and £2566 18s 3d "was forwarded to Christchurch for this fund. A further donation would be forwarded to headquarters. 'lhe "Our Day" appeal resulted in £3219 8s 3d•being subscribed. In October Mr F. Ferriman, who had been a most generous contributor to all patriotic funds, sent, through the local Ecd Cross, £200 for the British Red Cross. The amounts raised for Red Cross work during the year were:—Subscriptions and donations £1916 9s id, material eold £100, blanket fund £797 C-3 lOd, "Our Day" Fund £3019 8s 3d, Prisoners of Wai Fund £2566 IS3 3d—total XSfiOO 2s sd. During the lato epidemic the women of the Red Cross Society had also dor.o splendid work in rendering all possible help to those who were stricken down, and no rewards or certificates were looked for or accepted, and it wa3 largely owing to the prompt and ready help given by the Red Cross that tho mortality in tho Ashburton district was so low. • The Society desired to sincerely thank all those who had helped it in its work. The balance-sheet showed:—Liabilities: Mwch accounts for materials £35, surplus £828 4s Bd—£3o3 4s Sd. Assets: Goods and material on hand £250, cash at bank £613 -Is Bd—-£863 4s Sd. The statement of receipts and payments for the year ending March 31st 1919, were: —Receipts: To balance 31st March, l'JlB, £2181 9s Id, material sold £175 2s Id, blankets fund subscriptions £797 6s lOd interest £14 5s 10d—£2903 3s lOd. Payments : Materials X3GO2 IS3 9d, blanket, fund £546 13s 10d. British Red Cross (per Mr F. Ferriman) £200, sundry payments £4471 10s Sd. cash at bank £513 4s Sd—£sos4 13s 4d. The report and bnlance-shoet were adopted. It was decided that each Guild be represented at the peace celebrations. Officers were elected as under:—President, Jlr« H. Hunter; Miss E. McKee; I treasurer, Mrs E. Ruddock: committee, Mesdames A. McClure. J. TVatson, H. Hunter, i D. "Wood. E. J. F. Grieg, and Miss WateTSfon;, comforts committee, Mrs E. F. J. Griff? and Miss Waterston, with power to add to th°ir numb?-. In recoTiition- of th» vnhjnb'n pervices rendered by the late Mr C TV. Nicoll. the members of the Soeictv ur~>—Mrs Nicoll with sn enlarged and h'Mik® nhntoTraph of the d»ee»-«»d. bearine tho inscription: "To Mrs C. W. Nion'l. in lovin<r cvmpothv from .•he Ashburton T?<*d C r oss ledies in recognition of the ?ood work done during 1914-1915."