RED CROSS DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 13

RED CROSS DAY

• ANNUAL APPEAL FOR FUNDS

'INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION

On Friday the local branch of the Red Cross Society is holding its annual "Our Day" appeal. The proceeds are devoted to peacetime activity, as distinct from the work.done by the society 01. behalf of exservice men under treatment at hospitals and sanatoria as a result of their war service. For this latter service money collected during the war ia disbursed. Since assuming its peacetime programme, the society has relied upon public support in the form of membership subscriptions, donations, concerts, entertainments, and au annual Red Cross day, to finance the work.

At the termination of the war the five principal Allied Powers, Great Britain, America, France, Japan, and Italy, ratified through their respective Governments a proposal to perpetuate in peace the wonderful Red Cross organisation which had functioned so smoothly and effectively during the way. These five Powers are the founders of what is now the. League of the lied CroBS. Since 1019, the year in which the league was inaugurated, . the number of nations affiliated has grown from five to fifty-four. The New Zealand Red Cross Society was admitted a member in July, 1919. The object of the league is:—

1. To encourage and promote in every country in the world the establishment and development of a duly authorised voluntary national Red Cross organisation, having as purposes the improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world, and to 6ecure the co-operation of such organisations for these purposes. 2. To promote the welfare of mankind by furnishing a medium for bringing within the reach of the peoples the benefits to be derived from present known facts and new contributions to science and medical knowledge and their application. .3. To furnish a medium for co-ordinating relief work ia case of great national or international calamities.

The work of the Red Cross throughout the, world was endorsed by the delegates attending the Medical Conference at Cannes, and Article 25 of the pact of the League of Nations reads:— i "The members of the League agree to encourage and promote the establishment and co-operation of duly authorised volun tary national Red Cross organisations ■ having as purposes . the improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world." Since its inception the League has played a worthy parf in handling famine," disease, and disaster wherever they have raised their heads. WORK OF THE LOCAL BRANCH. During the past year 860 garments have been distributed among families in sickness and indigent circumstances. Each case is fully investigated by the nurse before ■ assistance is given. Sickroom equipment, crutches, invalid chairs are loaned free to cases whose circumstances are such as to prevent them obtaining their own. /Free public health lectures by members of the British Medical Association have been given, and many thousands reached per this medium. r Instructional classes have been held in first aid and home nursing and hygiene and sanitation during.the year, and 1235- ---■ students have attended. First aid and home nursing instruction is given to pupils in primary and secondary schools. From' advanced students a voluntary aid detachment of 200 women has been formed ready to function in Wellington in epidemic or disaster. Ladies from this detachment visit girls who may be indis? posed living in Wellington away from home and perform the various sickroom services. . During the last Winter Show . a Red Cross rest room and aid station was cstublished at the Show, and V.A.D. members • were ,in attendance. _ Over 1000 mother* made, use of this service, and a number of minor accident cases were attended to. Sports fields and public gatherings are' attended by qualified students to meet any first aid emergency. The local committee on behalf of the Jubilee Institute attends to the well-being of the blind. Fifty-three cases in the city have been registered on file. In the fine weather picnic outings are promoted)as many as forty blind cases attending on such occasions. In many ways the Red Cross performs useful service for the blind.

A follow-up system among patients in poor circumstances discharged from hospital has been inaugurated. The Junior Eed Cross Movement is being developed. This movement has as its objects:—To teach children how to maintain and improve their physical, intellectual, and moral health; to give practical opportunity for children to develop" the spirit of service; to foster their eagerness to become useful men and women, and good citizens, by providing them with a programme o£ usefulness while still young; and to develop a strong spirit of comradeship between themselves and children of other countries.

Tho eircleß formed have inado and collected clothes for children in poor circumstances, have collected books, flowers, fruit, eggs, etc., for patients in hospitals, have from their own earnings purchased surgical booto and appliances for poor children suffering from infantile paralysis!, and have purchased and equipped first aid cupboards for- their schools.

It is m furtherance of this work that the Red Cross makes its appeal to the public on Friday next. Given the necessary support, an organisation which wilf serve effectively, efficiently, and expeditiously in epidemic or disaster will be built .«£• __