RED CROSS SOCIETY

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1937, Page 12

RED CROSS SOCIETY

COAST CENTRE FORMED.

A West Coast Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society was lormed at a public meeting of citizens in the Borough Council Chambers last evening, the resolution to form the centre being carried unanimously on the motion of Messrs A. H. Mckane and W. H. Parfitt. Officers were elected as follow: Patron. Mr. W. Meldrum. Chairman of Executive, Mrs. G. W. Meade; secretary. Mr. L. B. Hutchison; provisional committee: Dr. J. F. C. Moore and Mrs. Moore, Mr. L. Teasdale Mrs. E. McDonnell, Mr. W. Mallwork, Mrs. W. Meldrum, and Mrs. C. Tilleyshort. The Mayor, Mr. W. Meldrum, who convened the meeting, presided over an attendance of over 30 citizens. Mayor J. Abel, V.D., chairman of the Dominion Executive of the Society, and Sister B. J. Stringer (organiser of the Junior Red Cross) addressed the meeting? . The Mayor introduced Major Abel and Sister Stringer, and explained that the purpose of tlfe meeting was to form a branch or centre of the Society in Greymouth. The Society was a most important body, doing wonderful work all over the world, in times of disaster, war. and innumerable other fields, and not the least of its activities was among the children, where the Junior Red Cross was doing splendid work. There was a tremendous amount of work that could be done by the Society in Greymouth and district, and he commended the proposal for the establishment of a branch in Greymouth.

Major Abel thanked the Mayor, and Messrs A. H. McKane and T. P. Ryan for the interest they had taken in the proposal. In the course of a lengthy address, he traced the work of the Society from the International Committee down to the smallest sub-cen-tre. He outlined the principles of the League of Red Cross Societies, -of which 63 countries were members, and also the principles behind the formation of national organisations. The International Relief Union which had been functioning for only three or four years, embraced some 49 countries. New Zealand being one. The Relief Union was, he said, in plain terms, a huge insurance scheme against disaster. Each country made an annual contribution, and was entitled, if struck by a disaster of any magnitude, to get relief from the Union. The New Zealand Red Cross Society was composed of 23 centres, and the Dominion Council, or governing body for New Zealand, was comprised of two representatives from each centre. An executive committee for the West Coast Centre would probably sit at Greymouth, as the controlling body for the whole of the district or centre, comprising delegates from -each of the sub-centres, or sub-branches established in places such as Greymouth, Hokitika, Westport, Reefton, etc. Major Abel mentioned that after many years of unfortunate discord, the differences between the Red Cross and the Order of St. John, in New Zealand, had been Settled, and though there could never he amalgamation, an account of the definite character of each body, they had decided to work together. The known membership of the Society, continued Major Abel, was over 30 millions. In the activities of the Society were the relief of distress in disasters such as war, earthquake, flood, etc. Again, there was the voluntary aid organisation, which was mainly for the womenfolk, and he had found the Matrons of the Grey and Westland hospitals only too keen to assist with classes for instruction in this important branch. Then there was the branch which dealt with first aid on highways. This also covered a very wide field, and it was the object of the Society to have attendants at all petrol stations properly trained to do this work. Those present could realise what this would mean in the saving of suffering and even life, if they could accomplish that work in New Zealand. There were opportunities in all directions, he said, for the activity of the Red Cross Society.

JUNIOR BRANCH.

Speaking of the Junior Red Cross. Major Abel, said it was now spread over G 3 countries, and embraced over 20,000.000 members. An essential point in the Junior league was friendliness and international goodwill, and the fact that children in so many different countries of the world were in friendly correspondence with each other, was evidence of the work being done in this direction. Concluding, the speaker said, that the activities of the Society covered such a wide field that there was ample room in each section for the energies of any person or group of persons to concentrate on one section. He understood that a few men had been carrying on the work of the St. John Ambulance Association in Greymouth for some years, and explained that it was the object of the Red Cross Society to assist such existing organisations wherever possible. Sister Stringer explained in detail the work of the Junior League, which she said was worked through the schools by courtesy of the Health and Education Departments. There were three rules for members of the League: (1) To keep the rules of health, which could do a great deal towards raising the standard of national health; (2) to give some service; and (3) to cultivate international friendships by correspondence. In the latter field a great deal could be done towards ensuring peace, for if peace was ever to be obtained in the world, it was through the younger generation of the present that it must be developed. Sister Stringer said they had found the schools keenly interested. There was no financial obligation on the children. They simply signed the roll, and endeavoured to keep the rules. Major Abel said that Dr. Moore had kindly offered to conduct classes. The number of classes necessary was really a matter for the instructor. The whole course could be done in eight lessons, and the full course for women must take three years, with tin elementary, intermediate and final examination at the end of each year. The motion to form the West Coast Centre was then carried unanimously, and the officers elected. The names of 35 prospective members were handed in. Dr. Moore said he was firmly convinced of the value of the Red Cross work. In the course of hj s medical work in Greymouth. he had noticed particularly a lack of knowledge of some of lhe simplest, procedures in home nursing. It would probably surprise some of those present to know that he had contacted with people in Greymouth who could not apply a Jin-1 seed poultice correctly. or even make a patient decently comfortable in bed. | The Red Cross Society would help toj remedy that sort of thing, and he would do all he could to assist. Votes of thanks to Major Abel. Sister Stringer, and the .Mayor, were carried by acclamation.