RED CROSS AND ST. JOHN

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 42, 18 February 1921, Page 9

RED CROSS AND ST. JOHN

WORK FOB WAR CONTINUED FOR PEACE. At the beginning of the war there was no Red Cross organisation in New Zealand, but numerous societies sprang into existence in every city, town, and village ; in the Dominion, and it was found that j there was considerable confusion and j overlapping, which necessitated bringing ! all the. societies undor the one organisa- | tion, and thus in 1915 the New Zealand branch of tho British Rod Cross Society and Order of St. John came into being. From then till tho end of the war the relief work was curried on in each centre Well and efficiently, with groat benefit to the comfort and well-being of the soldier. It is still being carried on at the various military and many civil hospitals. In Wellington tho society's first office was in tho Town Hall, then after a short while the office was moved to Mor-cer-strect, next to Wakefield-street, and then again to Mercer-street. Shortly after the armistice tho society -had again to move, and found a suitable building at 63, Dixon-stroot. This building was purchased'in order to procure a permanent ■ home for HlO Rod Cross, as its activities with the returned sick and wounded soldiers alone is likely to last for many years. In March. 1919, five delegates attended tho Red Cross Society's Conference in Geneva, and after hearing what was said at the Conference they decided.to become a 'signatory to the League of Bed Cross Societies, which now embraces twentyseven societies.

The feeling generally was that the organisation' which did such marvellous work during the war should be continued for the benefit of humanity.

It is' to bo hoped that,this sentiment may bo kept alive in-New Zealand, al- . though it is such a favoured country and Jso far away from' the greater nations in the world. There is need for suoh work as the Red Cross can do, in the prevention o£ disease and promotion of health, instanced by the fact that the results of the medical examination o£ recruits from November, 1916. to November. 1918, shows that out of-138,493 exitained 81,111 men were physically, unfit to render military service abroad.-^,

The success of the "efforts of the Red 'Cross Order of St. John will be entirely due to the numbor. of members it can, enrol. '..-''. .

No money which was subscribed during the war for the soldiers can be used for such peace-time work.