VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMENT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 2

VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMENT

COUNCIL HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING (New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 24. Voluntary effort Was valuable in a welfare State, and there was a real need for trained V.A.D.’s in even the smallest New Zealand town —a fact brought home by the Tangiwai rail disaster, said Mrs M. Hodgkinson, commandant of Red Cross Voluntary Aids, at the opening of the annual meeting of the Dominion Voluntary Aid Council at Wellington this morning. Lady Norrie officially opened the meeting. She is commandant-in-chief of Red Cross V.A. detachments. Voluntary workers were the greatest glory of a democratic society, said Mrs Hodgkinson, and any society which could inspire people to help others by their own free will had proved its worth. In a country such as New Zealand, where the welfare of the inhabitants was so well cared for by the State, voluntary work was perhaps not so necessary nor so much appreciated as »it was in days gone by. Nevertheless, it would be a sad day in any country if welfare of people was so well organised that voluntary effort would become unimportant or even nonexistent.

The vital importance of having people with knowledge and qualifications available to authorities if disaster struck could not be too strongly emphasised, she said. It should be, and in fact must be, the concern of all Red Cross centres and sub-centres to see to it that they had at least six trained personnel who could be called on when required. Lady Norrie said that voluntary aid detachments could always be sure of her interest and support. All Red Cross centres and sub-centres should have trained personnel available to meat emergencies, she said. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were shining examples of devotion to duty and service. Many times in New Zealand during the Royal tour. Lady Norrie said, she had seen how they would clan to give as much pleasure as possible to people.