JUNIOR, RED CROSS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 10

JUNIOR, RED CROSS

A GROWING MOVEMENT The fourth annual report of the New Zealand Junior Red Cross is this' year issued by the Peacetime Executive of the Wellington Division of the New Zealand Branch of the Red Cross Society, as this division has initiated, developed, maintained, and financed the movement for the whole of the Dominion. The report States, that considerable' expansion has taken place in the movement, the value of which, as a factor in the education of the country's youth, could not be ovef-estima-ted. A very fine record -of service had been performed by the circles during the year, and 23 more had been formed, making a total of 54 circles. Applications had also been received from schools wishing to form circles this year. Lack of finance had prevented the visiting of more than a.very few schools during the year, and so the personal appeal so necessary for rapid progress, had been almost non-ex-istent. It was hoped that in the near future it would be possible to visit schools throughout New, Zealand. The Education Department still continned to give the Junior Red Cross its active co-operation. The union between the Junior Red Cross and the school was rapidly strengthening, and it was the hope of the leading educationists of New ~-Zealand that the Junior Red Cross would soon be in every school in the Dominion. The Junior Red Cross Journal still continued to prove very popular, and iv additiou to its New Zealand circulation was forwarded each month to Junior Red Cross centres all over the world. The editor's thanks were due to the many people who had contributed interesting articles to the journal, and to Miss Jean M'Kny for the many excellent drawings she'had sent in for reproduction. Health instruction had been given in a number of Wellington schools by Sister Lewis; in Taranaki by Sister Corkill; in Otago by Sister Kirkpatriek; and in Canterbury by Sister Christian. During the year over 1100 juniors had received instruction in first aid or home nursing. Respite the fact that the activities of the Junior Red Cross had widened considerably during the past year, and that most of the circles had taken up some local work in which they were interested, the supply of garments sent in to headquarters for.distribution amongst children in need, had been wonderful. Before Christmas,- the Mother Hubbard's Cupboard had done a lot o£ hard work, and parcels of clothing, toys, etc., were sent to families who were in need, and to different orphanages who needed toys, etc. All circles had worked wonderfully to make the cupboard a huge success at Christmas, and many letters Af thanks had been sent from those who had received parcels and other assistance. On Guy Ifawkes Day a number of Junior Red Cross members and other children had sent in the money they collected to the Red Cross, showing that they fully understood the spirit of the society. Junior Red Cross members had also given valuable assistance at the society's first aid station at the Winter Show, and on the Junior Red Cross and Blind Institute stalls; at Junior Red Cross radio concerts; and at the annual Red Cross entertainment and presentation of awards. Reference is also made in the report to the numerous Junior Red Cross competitions held during the year; to the presentation of the Junior Red Cross banner given to the New Zealand juniors by the juniors o£ Great Britain, and to the special concert'arranged by a number of the circles to assist the Senior Red £ross Society.