RED CROSS WORK

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 61, 5 December 1930, Page 13

RED CROSS WORK

National Organisation

NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY

By a resolution passed at a largelyattended meeting of Red Cross workers last evening, a national New Zealand lied Cross Society is to bo formed, and all necessary steps are to be taken to constitute properly and establish firmly that boSy in the Dominion. The Hou. Dr. W. E. Collins, C.M.G., M.L.C., and Messrs. O. H. Chapman, M.P., L. O. H. Tripp, 0.8. E., D. G. Clark, C.8.E., and C. G. White, were appointed a committee to secure official recognition of the society by the Government, and to draft a constitution, to be submitted to a further meeting. . Mr. Chapman, who presided, said that if one took a wide view of present world affairs, one could not help being impressed with the work the Red Cross Society was doing, and the helpful part it played. Under the Red Cross flag there were 58 distinct organisations, each doing ifs own work. There was no quarter in the globe where the Red Cross did not immediately function when need arose. Most people now associated the Red Cross with-peacetime work. There were thousands of students ‘ being trained by nurses, and .they-were getting very-fine training indeed, one in fact that was an unofficial part of the New Zealand educational system. The Junior Red Cross movement, Mr. Chapman mentioned, took the children from very tender ages and trained them in the spirit of the Red Cross. Apart from the educational activities, wonderful work was performed in the relief of suffering and distress. There were hundreds of women very keen on that class of work, and, unfortunately, there was a very pressing nged for their services. Another important branch of Red Cross work, he said, was the care of the blind. ' Following the incorporation of the New Zealand Society in 1920, Mr. Chapman proceeded, advice had been received from the British Red Cross that,, owing to its incorporation, the society could not be regarded as a branch, and the, means, of overcoming this difficulty the action at present being taken —the formation of a national New Zealand society. t When this was carried to completion, New Zealand would be entitled to a vote in the International Council Chambers at Geneva. Mr. L. O. H. Tripp said he was sure the time had arrived to form the national organisation; especially as the British society had requested it. The peacetime work of the Red Cross Society, he said, was being carried out iu a marvellous manner, but he thought it would progress still better under the national society. Lady Luke emphasised the work that had been done by the.; society when it started in New Zealand in 1915-—not 1917 as. many people- thought—and mentioned, that the men had not played a very prominent part in its work', though .during .the war period their services ' had been badly, required. in another ■. direction. Three weeks from the beginning of the • war, she said, five hampers had been made up containing.every requirement of themedical mtn. If would have been a very sad day for Wellington—indeed for New Zealand —if the women had not joined; forces and worked as they had done for! the Red Cross Society. . Mr. 0. L.-Falconer, Dominion secretary of the Order of St. _ John, expressed pleasure that the meeting was being held, saying that he thought there ought to be a national body in New Zealand. Dr. Collins said he was delighted a? national organisation was being formed; his only regret, he said, was that it had not been formed in 1917.