Red Cross Society

Hutt News, Volume 12, Issue 38, 15 March 1939, Page 5

Red Cross Society

SUB-CENTItE'S ANNUAL MEETING

The aftiiual meeting of the Lower Hutt Sub-centre of Lhe Red Cross Society was held at "Casa Loma," home of the president, Mrs. John Mitchell, on Thursday evening. General regret was expressed that, owing to the sale of Mr. and ! -Mrs. Mitchell's lovely home, this would be the last occasion on which the society's annual meeting would i be held at "Casa Loma," but the hope was expressed that the committee might be privileged to visit their president in her new home in Woburn Road. ] In the absence of the mayor, who is attending the Municipal Confer- | ence, Mr. N. T. Gillespie presided, | and expressed regret that the soij; ciety was losing *the services of its !] very efficient secretary, Mrs. J. It. , Salt, who will leave shortly to take j 'up her residence in Auckland. The j mayoress, Mrs. J. w. Andrews, pre-' :! sented Mrs. Salt with a cheque with | the very good wishes of her many friends connected with the Red Cross Society. Mrs. C. J. Ashton, one of the qi'iginal members of the committee, vSlio leaves shortly on a visit to England, was also presented with a travelling case from her friends. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Lady Roberts; president, Mrs. J. Mitchell; secretary, Mrs. E. Hubbard; treasurer, Mrs. C. Burnley; vice-presidents, Revs. H. Peat, H. E. K. Fry, J. E. • Lopdell, Mr. J. W. Andrews, the Hon. W. Nash, Messrs. C. C. Odlin, I H. G. Teagle, D. A. Ewen, A. Leslie, ! r ' N. T. Gillespie, J. Fletcher, C. J. i Ashton, and J. Mitchell; committee, Messrs. W. H. Smith, H. Hayes, C. J. Ashton, J. Mitchell, G. A. Williams, Mesdames J. W. Andrews, H. Mitchell, Thompson, Smith, Walker, A. Elbe, Davies, Ashton, Webb, Scoon, W. P. Williams, and E. G. Foster; auditor, Mr. L. V. Phillips.

Prepared for Emergency

The president, in her report, stated that the society works in conjunction with the mayor and renders help wherever necessary. In the course of the year it had provided bedding, furniture, boots, clothing, medicine, fares to hospital, and provided financial assistance with funeral expenses. The invalid chair was also in use practically all the time, and crutches are available for those in need of them. A probationary section of the voluntary aid detachment had been started and had met with a wonderful response, which should lead to a strong band of V.A.D. workers, strengthening the society to cope a/ith any disaster that may eventuate. The committee had provided the equipment necessary for the commencement of the class, and ■Wished it every success. Duringthe year the funds had been augmented by a very considerable amount raised by a bridge party, and the year ended with a satsifactory balance. In congratulating the sub-centre on its year's activity, Captain M. S. * Galloway, secretary of the "Wellington Centre, expressed his pleasure at the formation of the voluntary aid detachment, and during a short description of the society's growth in other lands, gave a graphic account, •with photographs, of a parade of 500 Y.A.D.'s, headed by a women's brass band, which he had witnessed in Sydney, where also large stores run each their own Red Cross corps, and a total of 100,000 are ready and organised for service in any emergency. He also strongly supported the exten- ' sion of the Junior Red Cross to every school in New Zealand. He Urged the people of Lower Hutt to support the movement in every way, especially by joining the V.A.D. and nursing classes. He pointed out that there would be valuable work for the Red Cross members to do when the new hospital was built in the district. In Wellington they had raised large sums of money and provided a most valuable service by organising a cafeteria at the hospital. A short programme of delightful songs by Mrs. Wilfred Andrews, accompanied by Mrs. J. W. Andrews, and two clever elocutionary items -by Mrs. H. Lowe, met with much ap- * plause, and preceded supper, which was served in the dining-room. A distinctive centrepiece of scarlet geraniums with maidenhair fern in the symbolic form of a red cross, was stritMigly appropriate. Huge baskets of '"Vh red gladioli and flame and alH'ißot dahlias glowed on low tables round the room, where a blazing log fire added its comforting touch to the enjoyment of a delectable supper. Those present included Captain Rl. S. Galloway and Mrs. Galloway, Mr. F. S. Pope (.acting chairman for Wellington Centre), Mesdames G. Mouat, J. A. Kelly, W. P. Williams, H. Taylor, E. Webb, G. Savage, N. T. Gillespie, H. Mitchell, j! Fletcher, O. Binning, A. Elbe, C. J, ' Ashton, I. Andrews, C. B. Wetherall, J. Love; Misses I. Williams, O. Buttimore, L. Webb; and Messrs. H. Hayes, J. Fletcher. O. Binning, Rev. H. E. K. Fry, E. . Hubbard, W. H. Smith, K. Salt and G. H. Williamsc.