RED CROSS FUNDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1942, Page 3

RED CROSS FUNDS

NOT FOR COMBATANTS

CHRISTCHURCH, May 22

“This is one of the most destructive statements ever made about the Red Cross work in New Zealand,” declared Dr. J. Leslie Will, chairman Of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society of New Zealand and chairman of the executive of the Red Cross Society, in his comments on a statement by Mr. G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Board, that the talc that these bodies could not work for the combatant forces was a myth. Dr. Will said in an interview this evening that |the statement was all the more incredible and damaging to the work of the Red Cross, because it came from a man in an ollicial position. Mr. Hayden was reported to have said that the story "that the Rod Cross and St. John could collect only for sick and wounded and not for combatants” was one which they had built up round themselves. Dr. Wil! said that the societies were auxiliaries of the Army Medical Services, which had the prior claim to use the emblem consisting of a red cross on a white 'ground, and tire national societies en].joyed the same privilege only because [they were auxiliaries. “The whole idea of the International Red Cross is the building up of a body which stands for the desire of mankind to alleviate human suffering, and, as far as possible, to prevent it,” said Dr. Will. “Those who serve under the Red Cross banner throughout the world arc pledged to support this common ideal to the exclusion of all political, racial, or religious prejudices. It seems to me that the sole duty of the Red Cross in New Zealand is to provide for the caring of the aftermath of the war—the sick and wounded, and the prisoners of war. It

is known that more than £6OOO a week is being spent from funds under the control of the Patriotic Board, but subscribed under the appeal for sick and wounded sponsored by the St. John. Ambulance and Red Cross Society. To me, it seems immoral to use money subscribed to the Red Cross for any other purpose than sick and wounded and prisoners of war, or for the relief of suffering. Mr. Ha”-

den is well aware that one of the most successful appeals in the country has been made for that purpose, and I am quite satisfied that if our organisation were allowed to make another national appeal on the same lines it would meet with similar success.” The Red Cross could not possibly subscribe to any suggestion that its name or organisation was being used for the collection of money for those troops who were fit and well, said D: Will. That was the privilege of the National Patriotic Board.

' “The international aspect has a strong bearing on this matter, and the ! responsibility of our prisoners of war rests on the absolute impartiality of the International Red Cross. If any move is made in New Zealand-which could in any way cast suspicion on that impartiality of Red Cross work as a non-combatant service, then our unfortunate prisoners of war may suffer,” concluded Dr. Will.