More Red Cross Members Wanted

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 2

More Red Cross Members Wanted

“There is a great need for new members of the Red Cross Society, and both active and non-active members are welcome,” said Mr P. Hollander at a quarterly meeting of the North Canterbury centre of the Red Cross Society yesterday.

Between February 21 and March 6, enrolment depots will be established in shops, and in Cathedral square, where interested members of the public will be invited to enrol.

Their enrolment forms will later be distributed to the sub-centres in their residential area. Personal contact will be made with applicants and they will be asked what type of Red Cross activity they would like to do. A recently-published pamphlet, which will be available in the enrolment booths, says that men are needed in the Red Cross Society to train for civil defence; assist with transport of "meals-on-wheels” to the aged and needy, and to help with organisation and administration.

Women are required to become voluntary aids; to help with "meals-on-wheels”; for visiting the sick and elderly; to undertake sewing and knitting; to sort and pack clothing for overseas refugees; to talk on health subjects in schools; and to help raise

funds for Red Cross needs at home and overseas.

Young persons also are listed as valuable members—boy cadets to train in essential first aid. and girl cadets to learn home nursing and first aid. School children, the pamphlet says, join as members of the Junior Red Cross, whose aims are health, service. and international friendship. “The Red Cross is an international organisation which has as its aims the prevention of disease, the improvement of health, and the mitigation of suffering,” the pamphlet says. “The Red Cross is impartial to race, colour, political opinion or religious belief. Its activities in war are concerned primarily with the care of the sick and wounded members of the armed forces and prisoners of war. In peacetime its activities are of equal importance and cover a wider field."

Discussing the organisation of the Red Cross in New Zealand, the pamphlet mentions detachments of trained men and women established in some areas for specialised training, to act as an emergency unit in time of disaster “However, untrained volunteer members form an essential part of the Red Cross programme ” At yesterday’s meeting, Mrs Brake said 1962 was a special year for the North Canterbury centre in the institution of the drive for new members. Sub-ce.itres would inaugurate their own campaigns after the central one. In addition to the flora) set piece entered by the centre in the Christchurch Floral Festival, a float will be featured as part of the recruitment campaign. Red Cross centres throughout New Zealand will conduct similar campaigns soon