RED CROSS SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 23908, 11 June 1941, Page 2

RED CROSS SOCIETY

iUSH VALUABLE WORK PERFORMED SIGNIFICANCE OF V.A. MOVEMENT Disappointment that tho Government had so far given no indication as to whether it intended to establish a convalescent homo in Dunedin for returned soldiers was expressed by the mayor (Air A. H. Alien) in his capacity as president of the society at the second annual meeting of the Dunedin Subcentre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society (Inc.), held last night in the IDS.A. social hall. There was a large attendance. Dunedin had always had to fight if it wanted anything, and things were got only “ at the point of the bayonet,” Air Allen declared. For instance, he stated, the military camps in this district wore obtained only after the utmost pressure had been brought to bear on tho Government. “1 hope that wo shall get a convalescent home here, and give the society opportunities of nursing our men back to health. The council offered Littlebonrne House to the Government, because we thought it would bo suitable, but the offer was not accepted, and since then there has been no indication of a move to establish a home here.” WORK WORTHY OF COMMENDATION. Afoving tho adoption of tho annual report, Air Allen congratulated the society on tho work performed during the past year, and generally on its work during its two years in the community. It was valuable work which ho could commend to citizens generally. To date there were 175 V.A.s who had completed their CO hours’ hospital training, and nearly all that number had had a further course of night training. _lt was a fine thing that so many girls should give up their time to be trained in this valuable work. Referring to the emergency precautions rehearsals held on March 29 and Alay 3, the Chairman said tho work of the Red Cross and V.A.s was only a small part of the whole. Those who had taken part had performed satisfactorily, and they would probably come near to perfection with further rehearsals. Under tho _ emergency precautions scheme specialised training was available to render aid to those who were injured or had their homes destroyed in the event of any enemy raid. There was a possibility of this country being subject to “hit-and-run” raids, which would do a good deal of damage, and it was to cope with such possible damage that 14 sections were being trained under the E.P.S. For more than 25 years, Air Allen continued, tho society had carried out excellent service at the Alontecillo Home, and had brought much help and comfort to the men. There was no more valuable work being done at present than that of bringing comfort to those who had relatives posted as prisoners of war, and who were in consequence suffering anguish and strain. This work, together with that pf seeing that comforts and messages were sent to the prisoners, was beyond mere words of commendation.

SOCIETY’S OPPORTUNITIES COMING.

The activities of the' society were somewhat limited at present, said Mr Charles V. Smith, seconding the motion, hut when the men returned from overseas there would be opportunities of large-scale co-operation. ~ He referred to the loss the society had suffered through the resignation of Mr J. 11. Laidlaw, who had gone overseas. It was Mr Laidlaw who had founded the V.A. movement, which would provide additional valuable aid to established services in the event of war or any other emergency. In regard to the work in connection with prisoners, of war, Mr Smith stated that this was being carried out in conjunction with a bureau formed in Wellington. He paid a tribute to the many willing workers under the society’s banner, and in particular to Miss Bello M'Lean; who had started refugee work during 1940, work which had kept many women very busy. The society had sent direct to the Lady Galway Guild 100 oases containing 10,000 articles; and to Finland, London, and Greece 124 cases containing 13,000 articles had been shipped. In addition, 31 oases of material had been sent to Wellington for shipment with each echelon. In all, tho society had despatched nearly 30,000 articles from Dunedin. The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of office-bearers resulted: —President, Mr A. H. Allen; vice-president, Miss Belle M'Lean; Executive Committee Mesdames N. Boss, 8.. Smith, 11. Dawson, ,1. L. Anderson, Misses C. Graham, B. Farquhar, W. Johnstone, M. Jeffery, M. Young, E. L. Wilkin, T. Paine, J. Harrison, O C. Nees, T. Packer. D. Bnmsay, Dr T.' MTCbbin, Messrs G. L. Ferguson, A. N. Haggitt. J, 11. Laidlaw; hon. treasurer, Air E. J. Johnstone; hon. auditor, Mr W. H. Al'Leod * DUTIES OF V.A.s. An address on tho work and duties of V.A.s was given by Aliss E, Tcnnent, director of V.A.s for New Zealand, and an ex-matron of the Dunedin Hospital. “ Tho present,” she said, “ is really a time of preparation, and no one can yet do anything of importance in tho way of war work, but it is splendid to sec such large numbers taking part in V.A, work as are doing so in this Dominion.” There were, she said, more than 600 trained New Zealand nurses serving overseas, and 300 of these had left since war broke out. This was a serious depletion to the ranks of trained nurses in the country, and it would be difficult to cope with any extra strain in circumstances of emergency. It would be in a crisis such as that that the many V.A.s would bo of valuable service. Aliss Tcnnent stated that V.A.s were given hospital training at the instigation of the Director-General of Health, who thought that experience in hospitals would prove of value in the event of emergency. Without some previous experience they might be nervous and of no service when the time came to give assistance. She also stressed .the part V.A.s, through their training, could play in their own homes, in tho prevention of sickness. An outline of the Red Cross organisation and how it worked was given by Dr J. Leslie Will. Dominion chairman. He said that if the society had been fully alive since the Great War there would have been no need for many other bodies to come into being. At one time the society was supposed to deal with matters concerning crippled children, tho prevention of tuberculosis and hydatids. Ho hoped that following tho present war the society would continue its activities in other important avenues. Dr Will, referring to prisoners of

war, said each sub-centre should have an office under the central bureau in Wellington, where those who had relatives as prisoners of war or who were posted missing could obtain information and sympathy. Letters and parcels were being sent to prisoners of war, and these were being received by those to whom thov were sent. Replies from prisoners had taken front five weeks to live months to reach New Zealand.