Red Cross Society

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 231, 12 September 1922, Page 5

Red Cross Society

PEACE TIME WORK, A BIG PROGRAMME. A number of Napier and district people interested in the peace time activities of Cross Society met in Napier yesterday, afternoon to hear Dr. E. M. L. Morgan, organiser. Mr. R. D. D. McLean presided And briefly introduced the speaker. Dr. Morgan outlined the first formation of the Red Cross Society, which was in 1859 in Northern Italy, on the battleground of Solieriuo, where lay 40,000 dead. From this it became an international body, ever ready to work for humanity. He outlined their huge work in the recent great war and said that now this was over the society’s work did not end and it would carry on maintaining its extensive organisation. Since the war all national societies—4l of them— had federated into the League of Red Cross Societies. New Zealand was pledged to carry on its work, and there was work to do even in peace in this blessed country. As the Minister for Health had shown all was not well with New Zealand, and the casualties of peace were more than those of war. The infant mortality, for instance, was greater than the losses in the war. Over 40 per cent of the eligible manhood of New Zealand had been rejected as medically unfit. The Red Cross was the only humanitarian body that could be called on at any time and by any nation. In peace time the league’s activities were directed to reduce disease. The alleviation of suffering' was a smaller activity though it became the greater in case of war. In peace time the objects were welfare of ex-service men, welfare of women, vocational work organising, organising Junior Red Cross, organising local relief. He particularly stressed the work that could be done by the Junior Red Cross, and mentioned the formation of several new sections of this action. Junior Red Cross sections were being formed all over New Zealand. He outlined the activities of New Zealand branches of the Red Cross and mentioned the Red Cross hospital in Auckland, and the activities at Trenthain, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, and many other institutions. The society had spent £2OO at Pukeora. They were opening a hospital at Lyall Bay, Wellington, for spinal ex-service cases and would maintain them with Government assistance. These were at present their larger activities, but they were training nurses for peace time work and undertaking many other smaller activities. The League was local, national and international and would be the largest charitable body in the world with its special objective as medical education. The New Zealand society, hoped to issue an official journal next year. With regard to funds, he specially asserted that no war time funds were utilised for other than war time needs and were now devoted to ex-service men. They were without large peace funds but they were gaining wonderfully. They found that they had most success with a paid canvasser. Ninety per cent, of what he raised was made available for the district from which it came.

Mrs. Clark said she thought Napier would be able to do its share in the big scheme. The position had been very clearly placed forward. Mr. H, Steele asked what was the position between the Red Cross and the St. John Ambulance Society. Dr. Morgan said it was a tricky point. The amalgamation which existed between the two bodies during the war had not been maintained for peace time activity. The bodies had remained in amalgamation in England. About one ouarter in each camp in New Zealand was stopping the wish of the other three-quarters to amalgamate. The trouble was in half of the South Island and there must be some discord there. The North Island was unanimous for amalgamation on on both sides.

Dr. Mercer, Health Officer, said they had been waiting to see what was coming of the peace time activity and they now had the chance to open that activity. He hoped Napier would go ahead on the scheme outlined.

Replying to questions by Dr. Mercer, tho speaker said the canvasser made a more or less house to house collection or canvass for members. The collector was a permanently disabled man. The nurses went in for an intensified course of Red Cross training as specified by the league and would assist all societies, at the same time lecturing and demonstrating. Tho speaker was heartily thanked for his address and the meeting indicated that the new activities opened up would probably be taken up in this district shortly.

MEETING AT HASTINGS. At St. Matthew’s Schoolroom, Hastings, last night, Dr. E. M. L. Morgan, organiser of the peace time activity of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, delivered an address on the necessity for preserving to the world one of the few beneficial results of the war, that might be kept active in the interest of mankind. Mr. G. Maddison, Deputy-Mayor, presided over a large and interested meeting. Dr. Morgan delivered a speech on similar lines to that addressed to a meeting held in Napier yesterday afternoon. and reported above. In the course of the proceedings, Dr. Morgan said that the meeting was one of the best that he had addressed. There is already a branch of the Red Cross Society in Hastings, and it was resolved to hold a meeting for the purpose of organising peace activities. It is understood that a canvasser will visit this district soon, with the object of recruiting members. At the conclusion, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Dr. Morgan for his most interesting address.