Decreased Interest In Red Cross. Work In Grey District

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1949, Page 6

Decreased Interest In Red Cross. Work In Grey District

The past year has witnessed a further diminution in Red Cross activity in the Grey district, membership having been reduced to the few who have an abiding interest in the work. This summary of the falling away of interest in red cross work was presented by the president of the Greymouth Centre, Mr A. J. Fairmaid, in his report to the annual meeting this week. The centre, whose headquarters have been transferred to the St John’s Bible Class rooms, last year co-oper-ated in the sale of health stamps, duties being undertaken for a week. Surplus hospital dressings were sent to the Church Missionary Society Hospital, Hangchow, China, in a ease of comforts prepared by the voluntary aides. A pair of blankets was provided for a necessitous family in a country district, and 14 parcels were prepared and distributed among returned servicemen in hospital at Christmas. The street appeal, stated Mr Fairmaid, produced £142 6s 3d. The society met half of the cost (£36) on tobacco provided weekly to returned servicemen in the Grey Hospital. The Voluntary Aid Detachment also decreased in numbers during the year, stated the commandant, Mrs E. McLean, but the remaining members worked successfully. Twelye food parcels were sent overseas during the year, and a case of clothing containing 200 articles was sent to China. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr W. Meldrum; president, Mr A. J. Fairmaid; vicepresidents, Mesdames A. Smith, R. Reid and F. A. Kitchingham; secretary, Mr A. A. Agnew; treasurer, Mr O. McLean; auditor, Mr W. Pring; executive, president, vice-presidents and secretary. Committee, Mesdames Kitchingham, Reid, J. Grant, Fairmaid, J. M. Olsen, O. McLean, Misses Brislane, Cambridge and Wilson (with power to add). Mrs McLean thanked the society, on behalf of the Grey R.S.A., for'assistance towards purchasing tobacco for soldier patients in the hospital. It was decided to give £2O to the New Zealand Society’s National Disaster Relief Fund, and £5 to the British’ Red Cross Society’s Middle East Relief Fund.

It was decided to hold the annual street day appeal on August 19, subject to the Borough Council’s permission. A letter was received from the local child welfare officer commending the ■society for co-operation in assisting a needy family. It was decided that the centre be represented at the annual meeting of the society to be held at New Plymouth in July, and the secretary, Mr Agnew, was appointed delegate. Representation at the annual meeting of the V.A.D.’s Council to be held in Wellington in May, was left to the Commandant, Mrs O. McLean to arrange. * It was decided to pack and forward another case of clothing for the relief of distress overseas.