Red Cross Membership Increases By 1054

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 2

Red Cross Membership Increases By 1054

The North Canterbury centre of the Red Cross Society has enrolled 1054 new' members this year, bringing the total membership to 5024. "This year has seen increased activity in every department.” said the president of the centre (Mrs R. I. Brake) in her annual report. Mrs Brake is one of the New Zealand delegates in Geneva for the centennial celebrations of Red Crocs so she was unable to present her report at the annual meeting

of the centre yeeterday. “On my return from Geneva I hope to have lots of information to. kelp tube our work for Red Crocs even more interesting and successful. The need for the work of our society continues to grow and we must be ready to meet any challenge,” said Mrs Brake in her report. New sub-centres operating ar Shirley, Woolston, AranuiWainoni, and Sock burnHornby were very active and increasing in membership, the report said. The Good Neighbour Service cooked and delivered 32,489 meals during the year. Field work greatly increased *nd many more people in their homes and in hospitals were visited.

Th* V.A.D. department re-po-ted more lectures in firstaid and home nursing and a slight growth in active membership. The V.A.D. cadets had a successful year, with a steady increase in membership. More Junior Red Cross circles had been formed in schools and the membership of the juniors had greatly increased The library had expanded its operations and now more than 100 persons enjoyed the service. During the year the centre made grants of £lOO for Indian relief. £250 for the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, and for Persian relief. £225 for Algerian relief. £5O for Hong Kong relief, £25 for Pakistan relief, and £450 for the Dominion disaster relief fund. These figures were given by the chairman (Mr E. W. Reeves) in his annual report

The centre's building fund now stood at £0412. ft would some day. perhaps not so far in the future, be a moat useful asset as the present centre buildings were already being used to full capacity, said Mr Reeves.

A great number of varied article* were received and attributed during the year at the centre’s depot Clothing was the main concern of the helpers. During the year, 34 bales of clothing were dispatched overseas for relief and many local organisations received Urge quantities of clothing to help in their welfare work.

Officers elected were: president, Mrs R. I. Brake; vicepresidents. Miss M. C. Bain, Mesdames J. B. Hay and D. J. Wales; chairman, Mr E. W. Reeves; deputy-chairman, Mr A L. B. Ross; honorary treasurer, Mr J. W. Huggins: executive, Mesdames G. Anderson, C. H. Bethell, W. D, Burnt, A. L. B. Carey, M. Kay, T. C. Mating. J. B. Morris, M. E. Wright, Messrs W. A. Hearn, P. Hollander. A. L. B. Roes, C. Spring, and Misses T. G. Eldridge, and M. E. Peat? ex officio.