RED CROSS FUND.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19888, 27 March 1930, Page 10

RED CROSS FUND.

DISPUTE over control.

JUR J. A. FLESHER STATES

POSITION.

(PBZ9S iSSOCIATIOJT TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, March 26.

A statement on the recent differences between the Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John was made by Mr J A. Flesher (Christchurch) at the annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society to-day. The estrangement amongst certain sections was followed by the withdrawal of Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson's patronage. A discussion in committee followed Mr Flesher's statement which, however, was released. , a Mr Flesher said that as one who had taken part in the general administration of Bed Cross affairs since the formation of the Red Cross organisation in November, 1915, and as one w ho had attended every general meetins of that organisation since that time, perhaps he might be permitted to make a statement. He traced the history of the combination of "the two organisations for war work. He said it was quite clear that those who attended as Red Cross representatives the meeting in 1917, after the two had decided to co-operate, and held to consider a constitution for the Red Cross, had no power to frame a constitution fnr anv organisation other than the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society, and the constitution finally adopted was for that society and no other body. As to the addition of the words "and the Order of St. John" to the title of the organisation, which had led to considerable confusion and controversy, he sat alongside Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, who moved an addition of the words in question, and he said to Mr Flesher at the time, "It is just as well to keep the name of St. John linked up with the Red Cross." It had been contended that the addition of tho words "and Order of St. John" to the name of tho organisation had the effect of making the organisation a joint one. It seemed to him it required a great stretch of tho imagination to arrive at that result. As a matter of fact the St. John Gate authorities themselves had taken strong exception to tho inclusion of tho name of the Order of St. John in the title of the Red Cross organisation, stating that the Order of St. John was certainly not a branch of the British Red Cross Society and could not be recognised or registered as such, and that the incorporation or registration of the new legal entity in New Zealand was not in accordance with the relations of the Order with the Society. Many prominent members of the Order of St. John in the Dominion were anxious that all references to the Order in the organisation should be removed. In 1919 the chairman of the joint finance committee of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John in England wrote to the Governor of New Zealand stating that if his Excellency was of opinion that a grant from this fund might bo usefully applied for the extension of hospital establishment, provision of a sanatorium or any other scheme or schemes for alleviating distress caused by the war in the area of his administration, he would bo glad to forward him a draft for this purpose up to the figure of £30,000. A resolution of the Society as to the purposes to which it was intended that tho fund should be put — war wounded and sick and after that general sickness—having been communicated to and accepted by his Excellency, a trust in regard to the fund was thus created and the moneys forming Buch fund had been definitely earmarked for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers and sailors and military nurses, and when their claims had been satisfied the balance of tho moneys (if any) might be used in establishing a fund for providing trained nurses for the alleviation of sickness and suffering whereever necessary as the council or executive of the Red Cross Society should from time to time determine. It seemed to the speaker that this phase of the question had not received the duo consideration it should by those who claimed to be interested in this matter.

"There seems to be an impression in some quarters that these moneys can be distributed at the discretion of the trustees and used for peace time work," said Mr Flesher, "but that is not the view of the members of the Bed Cross Society in whose care the moneyß are vested. Judging by tho experience of those who have been engaged in Bed Cross work for the past fifteen years every penny of the fund under discussion will be needed to provide for the necessities of sick soldiers, sailors, and nurses, for whose benefit these moneyß •were raised in the first instance. The position is quite clear: That the sum of £30,000 cannot be used for any other purpose than the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers and sailors and military nurses, and when these claims have been satisfied the money or balance as the case may be can be used in establishing a fund for providing trained nurses for the alleviation of sickness and suffering wherever necessary ' as the council or executive of the Bed Cross Society shall from time to time determine."

The following resolution was carried to-day on the recommendation of the executive:—"That the New Zealand branch of the British Bed Cross Society and Order of St. John cannot agree to a full acceptance of the resolution passed by the conference between representatives of the Society and the Order presided over by Mr A. Gray, K.C., but will support the appointment of a joint committee to administer the fund of £30,000 remitted by the joint finance committee of the British Bed Cross Society and Order of St. John in England, and subject to the terms of the trust imposed at the time the money was handed over to the Societv." A DUNEDIN OPINION. (rP.ESS ASSOCIATION TELEORAiI.) DUNEDIN, March 86. When Mr Flcsher's statement was brought under the notice of Dr. Falconer, chairman of the Dunedin Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association, he said it contained man., inaccuracies which no doubt would be pointed out in due time by the proper authorities. The Order of St. John in England had given an indication that it was prepared to support the claims of the Order of St. John in New Zealand even in a Court of Law. This would be most unfortunate, Dr. Falconer added, and it was hoped that wiser counsels would prevail before this course w£ts rendered necessary.