COMMUNITY CLUB

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 160, 22 June 1935, Page 10

COMMUNITY CLUB

Recent Visitors to Japan

MR. LARGE AND MR. GRAINGER

A special meeting of the Hastings Women’s Community Club was held yesterday afternoon to give the members a chance to hear Mr. Harold Large and Mr. U. E Grainger, who have recently returned from visiting Japan. Besides the club members representatives from other organisations in the town had been invited to hear these two most interesting speakers. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Large were the New Zealand delegates to the world conference of the Red Cross in Japan and Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Grainder were also interested in Red Cross work.

Mrs. T. H. Ltftvry, president of the club, welcomed Mr. Large. Mrs. Large unfortunately being unable to be present, and also Mr. and Mrs. Grainger. Mrs. Lowry said that the people of the East were no longer looked upon as a far away people and the Red Cross movement being international, each country must take its part. New Zealand enust make more headway and work hard to attain the society’s great aim—peace and health. In commencing his talk Mr. Large said that it would be possible to give only glimpses of the International Red Cross Conference because there was so much to take in with such a worldwide movement.

At the conference, which took place at Tokio in October of last year 250 delegates representing more than 50 foreign countries were present and the conference was a unique one. The surroundings were picturesque, the arrangements faultless and the cordiality wonderful. The Emperor and Empress of Japan took the very greatest interest in the conference, the Empress donating 100,000 yen for the use of the International Red Cross.

The speaker said that one of the most vivid memories carried away by the delegates was the roll played in the conference by the Junior Red Cross members. The great enthusiasm shown by everyone was most inspiring and it w’as obvious that in Red Cross work those taking part see eye to eye and work shoulder to shoulder. The holding of the international conference in Japan had been considered an audacious experiment, but was proved an unqualified success and its effects will be felt all over the world. The Japanese as hosts proved themselves the hosts of the World.

Mr. Large read extracts from his diary which proved most interesting and he told that wherever he and Mrs. Large went they received extraordinary courtesy and kindness from the people. He mentioned that even the staff of the hotels take pride in their service and they are always kind, merry and contented in their work. Everywhere is wonderful co-operation and organisation.

Mr. H. E. Grainger said that Red Cross work in New Zealand was not nearly as earnestly carried out as in other countries, fn Japan, where the people are so thorough in everything they do, they carry it into every walk of life.

Mr. Grainger said how very impressed he was with the Great Central Hospital, in Tokio, controlled by the Red Cross, over which he was taken. The hospital which is situated on land given by the Empress of Japan, has 150 wards, with 365 beds and several oper. ating theatres. In an emergency there is room for 500 beds. Eighty-six of the 365 beds are absolutely free for poor people and many others may be had for a very small fee. The out-patients department averages about 1000 patients each day and has had up to 3000. Throughout the hospital everything is very methodical and thorough and many of the rooms have every possible convenience, many wealthy people preferring to be in this hospital because of the excellence of the medical staff and attention they receive. The staff is, of course, enormous, there being 80 doctors and surgeons and 500 nurses, 300 of whom are students. These students are trained free and in return must, at the conclusion of their training serve for two years. For six years following they may be called up in a case of emergency. A maternity hospital is connected with the main hospital and here the attention and staff are as excellent as in the main hospital. A museum, too, is attached to the hospital and here wonderful research work is done to help in the training of the nurses. Correct posture is taught by means of models and diagrams and suggestions made for diet for summer and winter months and for suitable clothing for indoor and outside for different seasons. The aim is, of course, to retain the very best health.

Mr. Grainger spoke about Junior Red Cross work, saying that this must be fostered as much as possible bccau.se the junior members will become the adult members of the future.

The speaker said that the Junior Red Cross might be put under three headings, personal health, helping others and international friendliness. He urged those present to interest their friends in the movement so that New Zealand should not fall behind other countries. A movement with about 14 million adult members throughout the world was surely worth helping. Japan is ready for any emergency at a moment’s notice and New Zealand should be the same. Service is the key note of the Red Cross. At the conclusion of these two most inspiring addresses Mrs. T. H. Lowry, on behalf of the members, thanked the speakers for their kindness in attending the club meeting and talking to the members. Mrs. Lowry also told a few amusing incidents which she remembered from her trip to Japan, about 25 years ago. Everyone then adjourned to the Pasadena tea-rooms, where a most tempting afternoon tea was enjoyed. ; The flowers in the club rooms were artistically arranged for the occasion with tall vases of pussy willow and sprays of bamboo and bowls of gum leaves and bright berries. On the centre table was a lovely howl of stocks. Among those present were: Mesdames T. H. Lowry, H. Lovell-Smith, J. 11. Williams, C. A. Fitzrov, F. J. Hull, W. H. Wood. I). W. Hursthouse, W. J. White, H. M. Bishop, J. Wilson, E. V. Simpson, W. G. Stead, J. W.

Bate, C. Duff, R. Paynter, H. Gilbertson, H. W. C. Baird, Donald Robertson, Rivets, H. Stratton, A F. Glenny, John Kelly, it. Tod (Otane), J Wright. Misses Fitzroy, Lewis, H Ford, Rainbow, Dr. D. Mac Lean, and others.