THE RED CROSS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1935, Page 10

THE RED CROSS

HOW IT ORIGINATED. The term “Red Cross" is familiar to all, but little understood. It has an interesting history, states the “St. John Ambulance Review.” During the time of the Crusades, the members of the Hospital ! of St, John of Jerusalem wore a black mantle on which was inscribed a white cross, known many years afterwards as the Maltese Cross. But, when some ot its members who were knights engaged in the defence of the pilgrims, they covered their mantle with a red surcoat, on which was emblazoned a white cross. Their flag was afterwards adopted by the Swiss nation—a white cross on a red ground. The arms of the Order are still gules cross argent—gules beingred, argent white; a white cross on a red ground. When the first convention was called to consider the relief of those who suffered in war, the convention met at Geneva, and.as a token of appreciation for the Swiss nation, the convention adopted as its emblem a red cross on a white ground, being the Swiss emblem reversed. The societies thus formed were later known as "Red Cross" societies, a short title for the long name “National Aid Societies for the relief of the sick and wounded during war." The use of the emblem, known also as the “Geneva Cross" is very much restricted by the Army Council in England, and the Minister of Defence in New Zealand.

Apart, from the Army’ Medical Service, the St. John Ambulance Association. the St. Andrew’s Association, and the British Red Cross Society, have authority to use it under certain conditions.

USE OF THE EMBLEM

Apart from the Army Medical Corps, the use of the emblem and tho I name in peace, is restricted practical- ! ly to stationery, advertisements not exceeding six inches in width, and dej coration on apparel—the arm brassard is prohibited. The bodies using the name "Red Cross” are numerous. The International Red Cross is composed of the International Red Cross Committee, the National Red Cross Societies, and the League of Red Cross Societies. The International Red Cross Committee is n purely Swiss body, and is the supreme arbitrator in Red Cross matters during war. Its headquarters are in Geneva. The National Red Cross Societies arc‘those which have obtained the ofjficial approval of their own Governtmonta as the National Red Cross orIganisation in their own land, j The League of Red Cross Societies i has its headquarters in Paris, and is I comprised -of the National Red Cross > Societies. The British Red Cross is comprised of the St. John Ambulance Assoeiaiticn. the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association, and the British Red Cross j Society, The New Zealand Red Cross is composed of the St. John Ambulance Association and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. The Order of St. John in New Zealand is represented by a Commandery, which controls the St. John Ambulance Association, the St. John Ambulance Brigades, the transport services, and the district nursing guilds. It first established associations

in New Zealand in 1885, in Christchurch and Wellington. The New Zealand Red Cross Society was formed in 1931, and has been recognised by the Government and the International Red Cross Committee as the National Red Cross organisation in the Dominion.

I The St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association has no branch in New Zea- , land, but its certificates are recognised .by other bodies. ; The British Red Cross Society has Ino branch in New Zealand, but a dii vision bearing its name exists in Auckland as part of the Auckland centre 'of the joint committee of the "New .Zealand branch of. the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. .John.” > i At the outbreak of the war. the i Order of St. John in England united with the British Red Cross Society in i a joint war committee, and that committee controlled their joint war [•work; altogether £20,000,000 being | spent on the soldier. j In 1915, a New Zealand branch of , that committee was established and operated then, and still operates, under the title “New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John.” On the formation of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, the British Red Cross Society suggested that all its interests in New Zealand should be taken over by the new society. "The Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society” was therefore formed, and is now administering £30,000 of the funds returned by the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John to its New Zealand branch.

An Act of Parliament was passed in 1933 which enables the transfer of £30,000 of the funds of the Auckland Centre of the "New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John" to the administration of a joint council, comprised of an equal number of representatives of the Auckland St. John Ambulance Association and the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society.

FUNDS RAISED IN AVARTIME

The British Joint War Committee, the Order of St. John, and the British Red Cross Society, have asked that the remaining assets of I'loo,ooo, held by the “New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John” for the benefit of the war injured soldier, should be transferred for administration to the “Joint Council, of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society.” Similar legislation to that passed in would need tv Ve passed to effect this object. These funds were raised in New Zealand during the war as a result of an appeal made by the GovernorGeneral at the request of his Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught. Giand Prior of (he Order of St. John and 'the Marquis of Lansdowne, chairman of the British Red Cross Society, for the needs of th l ' sick and wounded for liis Majesty's Forces. Tho appeal was made in October. IP is. and the Armistice being declared in November, the funds were retained in New Zealand, and £3o,Out) of previous remittance returned. These funds are held in the four chief centres. Auckland has the Evelyn Firth Home and investments. Wellington, the Hobson Street Horne, the Dixon Street building, and investments: Canterbury, investments; and

Otago, the Moutecillo Home aud investments. in addition to headquarters investments. Apart from the £30,000 trust fund, and £9OOO held at headquarters, the assets remaining, including value of buildings, are distributed as at December 31, 1933, us follows: —Auckland, £41,325: Wellington, £25,848; Canterbury-West Coast, £7194; Otago, £16,425; and Southland, £2996.