RED CROSS DEADLOCK

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 3 May 1934, Page 6

RED CROSS DEADLOCK

HAWERA BRANCH IN RECESS DECISION AT ANNUAL MEETING MAIN ACTIVITIES TO CONTINUE. The Hawera branch of the New Zealand Red Cross Society at its annual ineetihg, held in Hawera last- evening, passed d motion of" . no-cpnfitiencein the present administration of the South) Taranaki ®ipd Cross Oouneu which, it was declared, had failed to justify -its existence during the past year. The customary procedure at an annual meeting was suspended and the branch resolved further “that it go into recess pending a definite declaration ot administrative poliev -by the formed New Zealand Reel Gross Society and a reconciliation of tli© contending factions on the control executive as well as an adjustment of the present unsatisfactory financial position at headquarters.” o + -„ This extraordinary business was the outcome -of a round table discussion held earlier in the evening in committee Bv eight o’clock, the time appointed for the annual meeting a definite olan of action had been decided upon. There was a, representative attendance of members and the president (Mr hiK Cameron! occupied the chair. At the outset Mr Cameron explained that the departure from ,customary procedure might appear strange to those, not in attendance at the earlier meeting, hut its .significance would soon be apparent. In moving the first, resolution a vote of no confidence in the South Taranaki Reel Cross Council, Mr Cameron said that although mole than "two moivtbs had. olaps€d sine© it became known that the instructional sister (Sister L .G. Small) was to be . withdrawn from the district, the c.oun- : c il had made no definite announcement lor move to meet the situation, or to ! <nve a lead in the carrying on of the i work. In fact,. during the past twelve I months tlie council had prevented the ! branches from taking any initiative ana had thus failed to give any definite i lead in connection with their activities. The work in the district had fallen on the Hawera branch, whose equipment had beep used throughput ‘ the district. It could, be isaid that I the pioneer work of the movement m South .Taranaki was 1 earned out by the Hawera branch and that ! the operations , of the society were con--1 ducted from Hawera as a centre. 1’ uitlier,. said Mr Cameron, m the matter of arrangements for a send-off to Sister Small, the council again failed to .move and much dissatisfaction was caused As an administrative body it was felt that the council had not assisted the work of the branches, and in no wav. had it justified, its existence. Levies were being paid.for which the branch received nothing in return. Mr W. G. Simpson- seconded the nw. tion and said that with such a splendic body of workers interested in the Red Cross movement in the district, it was a pitv that their efforts should be 'restricted through lack of proper leadership, which a live council could and should give to its branches. Mr Simpson pointed to the fact that no action had been taken by the council to continue the work of the instructional nurse, or had it even raised its voice in protest against the withdrawal ot Sister Small. When the instructional I work of Sister Small commenced in | South Taranaki it was in the nature o: an experiment. The Minister of Health, i the Hon. J. A. Young, was anxious that it should succeed, and promised the support of his department- to that end.. The experiment had proved a great success and the work of instruction in home nursing particularly, was found to fill a long-felt need in the community. The Minister agreed that the experiment was justified by the amazing interest that had been taken bv the people and the splendid organisation that had been built up around it. At very short notice, the department, instead of continuing the good work which it had started, had taken away the instructional nurse and so prippled the whole of the organisation. “I feel that, not only has the department let us down hadlv. but that our own headquarters and certainly om South Taranaki council also, has let us down,” Mr Simpson continued “The whole object of this work is one of protection, the idea beiiip- that it is more sensible to erect a fence at the top of a cliff than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.. Whilst the branch's efforts continue to be directed. through the present council, no definite progress can be expected. It has got us into the position where we are unable to cany on.” Dr A. :M. Young; What would the position be if the present council went out of existence altogether? Mr Cameron: Possibly the branch would achieve a more useful purpose than it is able to do (it present. Our efforts through the council in the matter of ah instructional nurse so far have been unavailing. Mrs. F. C. King: .As secretary of the South Taranaki Red Cross Council I consider that the remarks of Mi Cameron are. perhaps unifair in this respect, that if more suitable delegates were appointed more satisfactory results could be achieved. Mi* Cameron himself is a member and the council, and has attended only one meeting this year (laughter). Mr Cameron: I am pleased at tlie compliment (Renewed laughter). Further laughter was created when Mr W. R. Shaw rose in defence of Mr Cameron’s non-attendance at the ooun cil meetings and stated that he had acted on Mr Cameron’s behalf by proxy on at least three occasions. The motion was carried unanimously.

HIGH ADMINISTRATIVE COST. The annual statement of receipts and payments was read, and the chairman commented on the fact that 83 per cent of the branch’s income was absorbed in administration costs. _ • A comprehensive report by Sister Small of her work in the district for the 12 months ended on March 1 last was submitted, showing that 34 days were spent assisting the school medical officer in the preparation of 944 children for inspection, in the examination of 221 children for skin diseases, the re-examination of 819 children after the medical officer’s inspection and the inspection of 870 other children. Visits to homes totalled 514, junior Red Cross lectures totalled 243, health talks 17, first aid talks . 21, homo nursing lectures (120 evenings) 170, odd. lectures 2, treatments in homes 75, patients taken to doctor, hospital or optician 19, treatments on show grounds 5, lectures to Collins Cup team 13, lectures to Girl Guides 2, home nursing examinations 12, senior first aid home nursing examinations 3, Junior Red Cross in schools examinations 22, home nursing certificates issued 112, medallions 9, bars 15, first aid certificates 20, medallions 4. bars 1, junior first aid certificates 405, meetings attended 20, schools enrolled- for banner competition 21. treatment or advice to returned soldiers 40 per cent. “Junior Red Cross work in the schools has progressed,” stated Sister Small, “and the juniors have all

been active with their little ways of helping others. The following schools now* have circles: Tc Roti, Kapuni, Hawera, Okaiawa, Mokoia, Manaia, Turuturu, Mangatoki, Cardiff, N°rmanby, Fraser Road, Oaonui, Opunake, Eltham, Awatuna, Auroa, Tokaora, Pihama, Mata, Te Kiri, Otakeho, Kaponga, Whareroa, St. Mary s, Stratford, Tawhiti, Makaka. At the end of the year 489 of these juniors sat for their first aid examination and 465 passed and gained certificates. Hie best six from each school were taken to compete in practical and oral work for the Junior Red Grose banner competition, which the Te Roti school won until 95 per cent average. Among the activities of the juniors are the running of bazaars for their funds, for donations to distress relief funds and to assist the expenses 1 of the Red Gross car. Okaiawa gave 30s to the Hawera Hospital at Christmas time and sent £3 to Wellington for cheer for the poor. Normanhy, Pihama and Mangatoki have contributed towards the Red Gross car. Mangatoki also grow carrots and sent to Otalci health camp. Other activities amongst • the pinions have been the furnishing of Red Cross first aid outfits for their schools and assistance with. , the purchase of library books and other necessaries. The juniors have also collected clothes for the poor, scrap books for hospitals, made Peggy square rugs for beds and in other ways have been most jovful and helpful to me in my work. All the schools have been active and I cannot speak too highly of their wonderful efforts to serve others. A' Hawera junior takes fruit to tlie hospital each week for the children. The Junior Red Cross movement Is indeed _ ‘a free spirit which quickens the life of _ the whole school.’ It has for its objects health. service and international friendliness.”

Home Nursing.—Classes were held at Eltham, Mangatoki, St. Mary’s (Stratford), Fraser Road (W.D.F.U.), Otakeho (iW.D.F.U.), Hawera, Tokaora, Manaia, Opunako, Hawera Convent, Opunako High School. These were the regular classes where a course of 12 lessons was taken. Other classes for odd lectures were held at Awatuna (W.D.F.U.), Mangatoki (Women’s Institute), Turi Town (Women’s Institute), Normanhy .(W.D.F.U.), Kapuni (W.D.F.U.), Mokoia, (W.D.F.U), Turuturu (Women’s Institute) and the Maori Women’s Institutes at Okaiawa, Normanhy and Taiporohenui. For the Collins’ Cup competition 13 extra lectures were given, the Hawera team winning. The Voluntary Aid Detachment was formed on March 22, 1933, and the activities of the nurses have been many and varied throughout the year. There are 40 members, with three section leaders and a secretary, and the detachment is grateful for the help of Dr. A. M. Young, Mr W. G. Strange, Miss B. Young and Miss J. McCall. First aid senior- classes were held- in Hawera, the lecturers being Dr. H. D. Cameron and Mr W. R. Shaw and the examiner Dr. T. Fitzgerald. Classes also were held in Eltham, the lecturere being Dr. H. Saunders and the examiner Dr. J. Crawford. At the Hawera Technical 'School Dr. Fitzgerald and Mr Shaw gave first aid lectures "to some of the boys. At Hawera Main School Sister Small gave first •lid lectures fortnightly to Standard VI, which was separate from the Junior Rod Cross.

Home visiting in -South Taranaki consists of visits to homes where schoo-l children have medical defects and also to give advice in distress or sickness. During an influenza outbreak last year the detachment and che nurse were kept very busy. A good deal of sick visiting is done amongst the unemployed. On the show days at Hawera last year the; branch had for the first- time a first .aid tent whicli was fully equipped with first aid material, including stretcher and blankets. Both the first aid men and the V.A.D. nurses were on duty and many cases were treated. For the general first aid work on the football fields valuable, work has been (lone. The Red Cross ear has been retyred by the Otakelio W.D.F.U. and the Tokaora- home nursing class and W.D.F.U. A concert party from Hawera. went out to Otakelio on February 23, the result of w’liieh (£5 18s 6d) was handed in towards, car expenses. At Tokaora at- Miss Batten’s home a. “bring and buy” was held, which realised £2 2s.

“THE WORK OF ONE! WOMAN.” The chairman remarked that the report was of such a nature that it was difficult to realise that all it contained was the work of one woman. The experiment of Rod Cross work in the schools had proved a success far beyond the expectation of the department. It seemed that its very success had proved its undoing in the withdrawal of the nurse who had done so much towards' building up the organisation to. a level of utmost efficiency. Mr. C-ameron said that as the present administration costs were so high it

was advisable, in his opinion, that the branch go into recess pending a. definite statement of policy* by* headquarters. He suggested that a board of trustees be appointed to maintain the branch’s activities in and around the Hawera district and meanwhile take charge of all the equipment. An undertaking had been given by the members of the V.A.D. through Mrs. Veitcli, that their sick nursing would continue, and by the men’s first aid corps through Mr. Shaw that their services to the public at sports fixtures also would continue.

Mr, Cameron at this stage moved the adoption of the statement of accounts and nurse’s report, the motion being seconded by Mr. J. A. Dash and car ried.

SPLIT AT HEADQUARTERS. In proposing his motion that the branch go into recess pending a definite declaration of administrative policy by the newly-formed New Zealand Red Gross Society and a. reconciliaton of the contending factions as well as an adjustment by headquarters of its financial. position. Mr. Cameron said that for ".some time the fact of a split in the ranks at headquarters had been apparent. Branches were now faced with an announcement that £3OO was the maximum available for nursing throughout the whole Dominion. All was not well at headquarters and it was for the branch to make a definite stand and challenge headquarters to a reconciliation and an adjustment along the lines suggested. Mr. Dash seconded the motion and said it was pleasing to hear the assurance of V A.D. and First Aid workers that although the branch would be in recess their work would continue as before. It was evident that the branch could not hope to carry on under the present hopeless administration. The present council was hot an inspiration but a restricting influence, lie saw no reason why the branch should have to beg oit the council’s doorstep for permission to do that work which it .saw definitely before it.

The motion was carried and a board of trustees comprised of Messrs, W. G. Simpson, E. K. Cameron, J. Dash and Mrs. S. R. Veitch was appointed to prepare an inventory of equipment and carry on the present activities of the branch pending developments. On tlie motion of Mr. Cameron, seconded by* Dr. Young, it was resolved that the- branch place on record its appreciation of the excellent work of Sister Small during her stay in South Taranaki. _

Votes of thanks to Mrs. A. E, Stevens for her work as branch 'secretary, to the chairman and to the Press were carried by acclamation.