RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 29, 3 August 1931, Page 5

RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

HELP FOR HAWKES BAY"

While there are daily being added a few persons to the practically destitute list, and' other families: are being, discovered short' of necessaries, there is no. doubt that a very, large proportion, 'of the unfortunate have been greatly helped by the Red' Cross drive for clothing and the subsequent distributions through the investigations 01 other societies. The supplies of clothing given .out were apparently adequate in such a large number of cases that these people are. not making further applications at present.' The Red Cross locally if. now chiefly devoting its activities to the ex-Service men. It is significant that quite a number of depots have not been called on for some days. The money expended from .the Mayor's Fund in boots and clothing, has evidently relieved the position temporarily. _ While no great demands are being made justnow, fresh cases of people without clothing and bedding are continually being unearthed. Quite recently a family was discovered with blankets, but with no mattresses. The woman and four children, when the facts became known, were immediately supplied with a double mattress and three single ones. NAPIIiR AND DISTRICT. Little has been heard lately of what is being done in the earthquake zone, but the. people there have not been forgotten. The Mayor of Wairoa applied to the Red Cross for a sum up to £200 for boota and warm clothing, and. the Red' Cross executive has given instructions for the purchase o£ goods to that amount. The secretary of the Red Cross Society Headquarters ' (Captain ■ Galloway) has visited Napier. Last week the Napier depot handled 54 cases, in all of which boots and warm winter clothing were distributed. As the .result of an interview with the Mayor of Hastings, £15 has been forwarded, for the relief of women and children, and the sum of £250 has been forwarded for Hastings and Napier for the purchase of boots and clothing. Altogether the Red Cross Society has spent'about £5000 out of the funds, and now has. £1300 left.- The money expended was chiefly,,on blankets, boots, bedding, and crockery. A room has been placed at the disposal of the society by the Commissioner in Memorial Square. in^Napieri where the work of the society ' will be carried on for some months yet. A hostel for young single men has been opened in Napier where they pay 12s 6d out of their weekly pay, and are adequately maintained for it. There is a general impression that this hostel is filling a need well.