RED CROSS FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2537, 11 August 1915, Page 5

RED CROSS FUNDS

s DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE AUSTRALIANS. ' . By Telegraph-Tress Association-Copyright , ' , London, Auitust 9. ; The "Daily ' Chronicle's" Melbourne ooirespondent says that demands havo arisen for the details of the expenditure of tlie Australian Red' Cross contribu- ■ tions. ■. ■ : Sir .George Reid (High Commissioner for Australia), in an interview, said that lie, had received £109,000 from the Red Cross Society, and had sent £13,000 to the High Commissioner in Egypt for'expendifcure at his' discretion; he had , allocated £47,600 specially for Australians.. The' expenditure of the latter sum would be controlled by the Australian Red Cross Committee, of which • Sir George Reid is chairman. Until the Australians went into action there was little'call for funds. There had been heavy disbursements since April. Regular shipments were made to the Dardanelles, and every effort to overcome market difficulties to obtain supplies. The situation was now. well in hand for the comfort of' wounded men in Britain, at the Dardanelles, Egypt, and Malta. The early Australian contributions of goods and clothing were used by the Red Cross for needy British, upon an understanding with Sir George Reid that the Red Cross would supply Australians when the need arose. The promise had been fulfilled. There was no lack of co-ordination; Sir George Reid's, committee and the Red Cross . weTO co-operating harmoniously and effectively. The War Contingent Associa- • tion funds were limited to £12,000, and the association was sending many consignments to both - combatants and wounded. The association was conserving its funds for tho coming winter. The Red Cross was acting fairly and liberally. _ Tho unexpected number of casualties caused a temporary- inadequacy, but- .the work now proceeds smoothly and satisfactorily: