Red Cross Team To Vietnam

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 3

Red Cross Team To Vietnam

(New Zealand Press Association)

WHANGAREI, March 10. ’W

The New Zealand Red Cross Society will send a welfare team to Vietnam in a few months’ time, the society’s executive decided in Wellington yesterday.

Commander M. C. Ashdown, the national secretary, said that planning would begin immediately to send a team of three to Bin Dhin, in the region of Qui Nhon, where the New Zealand surgical team is working.

The team will be a leader, a registered nurse and one other, all yet to be chosen.

A national appeal for funds would help to provide the £BOOO a year to keep the team in the field, but most of the money would come from the society’s own resources.

Commander Ashdown said the team would be assigned to one of the relief camps where it would train three Vietnamese to help, bringing

the team’s strength up to six. All would be paid by the Red Cross.

The society was hoping that the Government would assist the team. The first action of the team, after training its helpers, will be the distribution of food and clothing. Other necessities, such as sleeping mats, will be made locally, and would help to give employment to displaced craftsmen.