IMMEDIATE WORK

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 4

IMMEDIATE WORK

Busy Week For Women's War Committee Members of the St. John Ambulance Women’s War Committee were called together yesterday afternoon to undertake and complete within less than a week, the making of bandages and other medical requirements for the first Expeditionary Force, which is to leave New Zealand shortly. Mrs. .C. G. Morice, who convened the inaugural meeting, vacated the chair for Lady Elliott, who has since returned from abroad. A special guest was Lady Myers, chairman of the Red Cross War Work Committee, who explained everything that was required.

The Red Cross work throughout New Zealand was under the control of the joint council of the Red Cross and the Order of St. John, said Lady Elliott, and there was full co-operation between the .two organizations. All the work the committee undertook, in fact, was for the Red Cross. The Government had recognized the council as a collecting and spending movement, and all the work was to go entirely to the relief of the sick and wounded.

Lady Elliott praised Lady Myers for her intensive and whole-hearted work for the Red Cross for the past 25 years —in fact, since the outbreak of the last war.

Lady Myers brought a great number of bandages to be made, and machine work and handsewing to be done. The finished articles were to be at the Red Cross rooms on Tuesday. There was no doubt, that all the necessary articles would be completed by then, she said. ’The greatest difficulty had been to obtain the materials to make the tilings. Mucli time had been spent searching all over the town for material in quantity, and great difficulty in getting it, either retail or wholesale, had been experienced. Detailed requirements were outlined, and many questions were asked. The importance of old linen for making numerous articles was emphasized. Lady Elliott said that “old linen” described anything white and washable sucli as calico. Old pillowslips were useful, and even old shirts. These could be converted into such things as diddy bags and handkerchiefs. Tlie old linen should have all hard seams, .buttons, and tapes removed, and should be boiled and ironed before being sent to the Red Cross. Old flannel was also required for fomentations.

Lady Elliott stated that there were no restrictions on private efforts to assist. If members wished to have ■bridge parties in their homes to collect money to buy handkerchiefs, for instance, there was nothing to stop them.

“Don’t wait to be a member of a committee to help,” said Lady Elliott. “There is much one can make and do in one’s own home.” As an example of what could be achieved in a quiet way, Lady Elliott said the Wellington ■Women’s Club knitting circle sent 75 pairs of socks to the Red Cross last week.

Mrs. Eric Luke showed some beautifully made samples of tlie things women could make at home, from hot-water-bag covers, slings of black sateen, woollen scarves, socks, eye shades, and ditty bags for use in hospitals. These are made similarly to spongebags in shape, with draw-string tops, and in the centre of each is a large square of white calico for the patient's name.

A complete record of all the articles made is to be kept, and members of the committee will meet every lasi Wednesday in the month to report progress. Lady Elliott said there would not be the same rush before the sailing of the second echelon, and members would have plenty of time for knitting many articles. An executive committee was set up. with Lady Elliott as chairman and -Mr. C. Meachen as secretary. The officers are: Representing St. John Ambulance Association, Mrs. C. G. Morice; representing District Nursing Guild of St. John, Mrs. E. M. Osborn and Mrs. Eric Luke; representing SI. John Ambulance Brigade, Mrs. G. W. Barltrop and Mrs. C. B. Gaby; and Mrs. A. Crawford, Mrs. J. A. Doctor, Miss E. A. Townsend, Mrs. D. Couttn, Mrs. Norman Perry, M rs. O. Finch, Mrs. 1. Whatley, Mrs. Godfrey Wilson. Mrs. W. E. Herbert, Mrs. J. B. McEwan, Mrs. 11. F. O'Leary, Mrs. J. W. Jack, Mrs. Johansen, Mrs. Chatfield, Mrs. A. D. Riley, Mrs. W. W. Dutton, Mrs. Sleeth, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. T. Grenfell Morgan, Mrs. I). M. Robert son, Mrs. A. L. George. All those at the meeting expressed willingness to do all within their power to help. Many left carrying large bundles, while others stayed behind to start work immediately.