RED CROSS SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 63, 16 March 1933, Page 9

RED CROSS SOCIETY

YEAR REVIEWED

EX^SERVICE, MEN

A summary of the activities of ths Red Cross Society .during-the past year is given in: theannual report -of the society-just issued/Af particular func» tion of the society /through the war period-and up to date has been the car« of sick and wounded ex-service men.

"Owing to, the prevailing economic depression, the year has been fraughi with more\than, usual difficulty, particularly for "those ex-service men ' whose health- ha? broken down, ,but Trio unfortunately have not succeeded in establishing their claim to a pension," states the report. "Whilst in accordance with the society's constitution, our responsibility is. toward sick and wounded men in. hospitals, sanatoria, and convalescent" homes^; appreciating the particularly and exceptional economic . circumstances nonpensionable ex-service men hav.ei been confronted with, we have felt-• compelled _ to'extend our ministrations to this special type Of. ease. In our work among these cases we have-' enjoyed the, full ccj-operajiion. of Jhe War Belief and Returned Soldiefs' Association, a service which has. proved most helpful and is greatly appreciated. We hay« been materially,'assisted in aiding ex-service: .-men' by the Wellington Centre of the JSTew Zealand Bed. Cross Society . boots, clothing, and foodstuffs, together with other comforts being distributed from their depot during the year, not only'to men, but their wives and children, without constituting a charge oa our war funds, which, in the discharge of our constitutional functions are already overtaxed. :■ Tp, the peacetime executive we ■ tender thanks for its Valuable co-operation, ' '

"Wherever .ex-service,men are under treatment in hospitals, sanatoria, ; and convalescent hqnies, ill the- district under our jurisdiction which extends as far. as Gisborne on. .the .east coast, and New Plymouth 'pri the' west coast)* visits are paid "regularly to -the men by the-"members' of our various centres arid comforts in the form of tobacco, cigarettes, sweets^ flovrers, magazines, periodicals, ettf., are distributed. Apart from the usual dispensation of comforts, the purchase of TtMcJti'.is a charge on our funds, a large -volunte of comforts, miscellaneous"'inT.Tuiid; flows into ths various institutions, from whi.ch the patients benefit. .-Atthe larger centres $>f treatment, the society has not only provided from its -funds, recreation rooms, billiard '.rooms, billiard tables, and appurtenances, cinema r and wireless equipment,' pianos, gramopphones, libraries, etc. ; bnt continues to maintain them for,, the recreational eiomfort of the men." ■

Details arc given of the work clone at tho Convalescent Home, Hobson Street. Particulars arc also, furnished of the society's activities in Hawke's Bay. Reference ismade to the fortnightly visits paid'by:-the-official visitors, Messrs. D. G,.iClark and- A. H. Bath, to the 129' ex-soldier patients ia the Porirua Mental Hospital.

The • compeers- ol*".--,the sew ■ British Museum library catalogue have entered the third year; of-their work. They have not yet finished with: the better "a." It will-take, at least twenty jrears to finish the catalogue.- The new catalogue will-cost £200\000.- JEaeh set will cost £500, and the people^who -will buy it will'be called "donors.";' • i ■