PEACETIME WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 142, 12 December 1935, Page 13

PEACETIME WORK

BED CEOSS BODIES

FUTURE ORGANISATION

"A rather difficult situation has been developing since the formation of the New Zealand Red Cross Society inasmuch as the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John, termed generally the 'war body,' has not seen fit to carry out its undertaking, which was given in 1930, tnat on the establishment and proper constitution, of the New Zealand Red Cross Society this new body would supersede the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society," stated Major J. Abel, chairman of the Dominion executive, in his annual report to the council of the New Zealand Red Cross Society today.

"This was the text of a cable forwarded by the then president, the late Hon. Dr. W. E. Collins, to the Secre-tary-General of the British Red Cross Society, who replied that the constitution of the New Zealand Red Cross Society entirely met their wishes. We have patiently waited for the 'war body' to take some steps to go out of existence as a body and its members carry on their work arid to merge in some way into the New Zealand Red Cross Society. The fact that this has not been done has brought about an impossible situation in certain parts of New Zealand, where we have what might be termed two Red Cross bodies in certain towns, and in other main cities where the 'war body' has been established we are not yet in a position to form centres of the New Zealand Red Cross Society and consequently absolutely none of our work is being carried on. This reflects very seriously by preventing the consolidation and progress of our society. "UNENDING CONFUSION." "On account of a very important incident which happened recently, this impossible situation has been brought right into the limelight, and we are now taking steps to adjust the position. "In dealing with this matter we agree that it is necessary to maintain the services of the 'war body' workers to carry out the task that they have been so ably performing since' the formation of their organisation. We do not desire one single interested worker to depart from Red Cross interests. It must be. recognised also, on the other hand, that the peacetime work of the Red Cross carried out by our society can no longer be retarded. The existence of the two bodies leads to unending confusion, not only to,the public but even amongst a considerable number of Red Cross workers and prominent Government officials. It is sincerely hoped that an amicable arrangement will be made whereby the war workers will carry on their special work of relief of returned soldiers and their dependants, under the banner of the New Zealand Red Cross Society." :