VALUABLE WORK.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20776, 9 February 1933, Page 2

VALUABLE WORK.

RED CROSS SOCIETY'S ACTIVITIES. URGENT -NEED FOR FUNDS. "Our funds arc exhausted at present, and we are working oil the little stock we have left," Lady Wigram, chairman of the Women 's Executive of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, said yesterday when explaining to a reporter some of the reasons for the appeal to be made for funds on Friday, February 24, when a street collection is to be made, and various goods are to be sold in stalls on the riverbank, near the Victoria street bridge. These funds-, Lady Wigram said, were for the peace work of the Society, The Red Cross war funds could not be used except for disabled returned soldiers, or those who traced their present disability to war service. Last winter it was found that the families of unemployed returned men were greatly in need of help and as the Society's war funds were not available, the Women's Executive decided to collect other funds. Subcentrcs were established in almost every town and village and there were now 53 in existence. Subscriptions were received from members of the Centre and of the sub-centres and from the public generally. Last winter they were able to help a little with boots and shoes owing to the vote made by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) from his Relief of Distress Fund; Mr Sullivan also, for a long time, gave one-half of the proceeds from the community singing, and this had been of" great assistance. "Every application we have made to the Mayor,'' Lady Wigram added, "he has granted, and we are very grateful to him." What has been Done. Since the Women's Executive started its peace work on May 2, 1932, the number of returned soldiers' families assisted has been 750: assistance has beon given not once, but periodically. There were 2022 children in these families. There were supplied 6757 garments; 214 blankets; and 59 baby outfits. Of the 587 men assisted 266 were men- who enlisted in Christchurch. The men who enlisted in Christehurch were assisted from funds, representing one-half of '-be surplus from the money raised to erect the Bridge of Remembrance;' this money was specially earmarked for assistance to men wlio> enlisted in Christehurch. Every family that applied for assistance was visited by Red Cross visitors to ascertain at lirst-liand what were their requirements, and the visitors came in direct contact with many pathetic cases. Families of. eight, or ten, presented a very real problem; it was found impossible to outfit such largo numbers, but what was possible was done. Great care is taken to prevent overlapping and the Women's Executive submits lists of those assisted to the Returned Soldiers'- Association, to the Patriotic Fund, and to the Citizens' Ro-, lief Association. Surprisingly few cases of overlapping have been discovered. The assistance given is in the form of clothing, and under-clothing, and boots and shoes. Arrangements for the Appeal. Preliminary steps already have been taken to organise the appeal to be made on February 24. Mrs Henry Wyatt

will be in. charge oil the actual day. About 500 letters have been. Beat to prospective collectors, aid. the executive will be glad if volunteers will Bend in their names to the Headquarters. Eed Gross Society, 127 Worcester street. The stalls arranged for are:—Produce, cake, shilling, jams, and pickles, sweets, and . flowers and . plants. Thq stock for the produce stall will be supplied chiefly by the country sub-centres, dnd the Canterbury Horticultural Society has undertaken to take over the whole control of, and-make all the arrangements for the flowers and plants stall. The Salvation Army authorities have placed the. Junior Hall 'at the disposal of the Women's Executive on Thursday and Friday, February 23 and 24, for the reception of gifts for tlie stalls, and members of Toe H have undertaken to receive the gifts at the hall on the two days mentioned. Lady Wigram told the reporter that already the Executive was receiving applications for relief, but in the majority of cases the applicants have been asked to renew tlieir requests after the appeal has been made because, as already stated, funds are exhausted and stocks are low. The extent to which the Executive will be able to give re-, lief during the coming winter will depend on the response mqde by the public, and Lady Wigram expressed the hope that the citizens of Christchurch would respond liberally for the necessities of the families of returned soldiers were great and were urgent. 4 PLUNKET SOCIETY. TEMUKA BRANCH. The monthly meeting of the Temuka branch of the Plunket Society.was presided over -by Mrs B. Brodie, ' others present being Mesdames A. Hayliurst, A. W. Buzan, L.- «T. Wareing, S. B. Wightman, G. Thomson, and A. McInnes. Nurse McClurg's report for December was as follows: —Visits to office 144 (adults 79, babies 59, older children 6), town homes 74 (old cases 63, new caseß 11), country homes 166 (old cases 143, new cases 23), new cases for the month 14, and total number on books 232. January—Visits to office 108 (adults 56, babies 44, older children 8), town homes 81 (old cases 71, new cases 10); country homes 169 (old cases 160,, new cases 9). The number of new cases for the month was 10, and the total number on the books was 230. VALEDICTORY. 'Jo say good-bye "to Mrs Farrar, who is leaving Amberley to live at Styx, the ladies of the • Presbyterian Church, Amberley, met at an afternoon party held at Miss McNaught's home. On behalf of those present Miss Marjorie Frew presented Mrs Farrar with a leather suitcase. During the afternoon musical items were given by the Misses Harries, Frew, and lvidd, Miss Ross playing tbo accompaniments. Competitions were won by Mrs Farrar and Miss G. Hislop. Among those present were . Mesdames W. Frew, J. Farquhar, H. Dalzicl, J. Morrish, W. Martin, D. McDonald, J. Farrar, A. Hislop, W. Allan, H. Hadler, H. Busch, R. Lambie, Lewis, and E. P. Shier, Misses ' McN aught, Armstrong (2). O. Farrar, Smart, M. Frew, Ross, Har-' ries, B. Morrish, G. Hislop; and Jt. Kidd,