RED CROSS SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 9

RED CROSS SOCIETY

QUARTERLY MEETING At the quarterly 'meeting of tha executive of the Otago Red Cross Society Mr Charles V. Smith occupied the chair, and there were also present' Mrs R. Dawson, Miss E. L. Wilkin, and Mr J. W. Smeaton, representing Dunedin; Mrs E. C. Cairney (Concord), Mrs W. H; Elliot (Clarendon), and Miss, J. Stokes (Lawrence). The Chairman stated that £IOO had been sent to the centre by headquarters from the New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, of which £SO was sent to Kaitangata and £SO to Balclutha for the relief' of settlers in the ■ flooded area." The Dunedin subcentre had also contributed £SO. The sum of £SO was voted from the centre towards the recent appeal mad© by the Mayor for the McLay Triplets Fund. The committee recommended that a grant be made to the Malayan and Far Eastern Association of Australasia (Otago branch) to assist in its guild work with, regard to the making of garments for returned internees. DOMINION EXECUTIVE. The Chairman reported on the Dominion Executive meeting : held in Wellington on April 20, stating that the Red Cross Society had sent overseas over £2,000 in support of the International Red Cross, to which had cone over £I,OOO. Other countries which had benefited from this grant were China, Poland, France, Belgium, and Greece. He also mentioned that a direct, appeal had been made by the International Red Cross for funds to purchase food, etc.. for occupied countries, and it was decided that, when the appeal was made, the New Zealand Society would give this Bupport. . In Wellington, Mr Smith mentioned!, a collection was under way for the establishment of a rest home for nurses. This, it was felt, could probably be started as a post-war work in other parts of the Dominion. He also stated that a plan for a national campaign for membership would shortly be commenced. Miss E. L. Wilkin submitted a report of the recent V.A, Council meeting in Wellington, where, she stated, tribute was paid to the excellent work of the VYA.s both in the Aamy and in the Civil Nursing Reserve. JUNIOR RED CHBSS. ~ It was reported that the Junior Red Cross activities had shown a considerable increase. The number of circles in Otago was 38, with an approximate membership of 837", new circles having been formed at Broad Bay, Sacred Heart School, Kaikorai, Benhar, the Clutha Valley District High School, the South Otago District High School, Kaitangata, Balclutha, and Highcliff. Several circles are corresponding with childrcsi in the Polish camps, and one circle in a country district formed a service club, while another is raising funds by minding children at nights. A mothercraft demonstration has been arranged at the Karitane-Harris Hospital each month, and the senior girls from circles will attend in turn. The Lawrence Circle had given £6 to the health camps, the Kew Home, and the Day Nursery.

GUILD WORK. Guild work throughout the province, it was stated, continued steadily, and;; workers had been kept busy recently/ replenishing stocks of hospital comforts for the Joint Council storerooms. In addition, a large supply of dittybags, handkerchiefs, and face cloths had been made for the Prisoner of War Department. The refugee work had increased. A total of 98 cases had been despatched during the last 12 months, consisting of 9,234 articles. Included in these was over four tons of clothing sent to Greece from the Otago centre, following a request from Dominion headquarters in November. The Chairman paid tribute to the work of the sub-centres, stating that efforts in this direction must be sustained in order to keep up the steady supply of refugee clothing. Mr Smith also the work of subcentres in connection with the Ocean; Beach Remedial Centre, and the hos-. pital canteen, and stated that the society had undertaken to furnish th» hospital recreation room. Reports showed that the Transport Department, with a membership.' of over 30, was doing excellent work. In addition to meeting sick and wounded personnel returning from overseas, pensions men were being conveyed to the Hospital for treatment. Outings were arranged for sick and wounded servicemen living in their homes, and they were' entertained on many occasions, transport being provided" by the society.