RED CROSS CONSTITUTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17394, 3 February 1917, Page 10

RED CROSS CONSTITUTION.

GOVERNOR'S SUGGESTIONS. At the meeting of the executive of the Red Cross yesterday the following letter, regarding Red Gross constitution, was received from bis Excellency the Governor, Lord Liverpool:— '"•In February, 1916, a meeting took place in Christchurch under my chairmanship, to decide on the best methods of co-operation regarding Bed Cross work between the Order of St John and the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society. "The constitution of the Order of St John in the Dominion has been established for many years, but hitherto no definite constitution of the Newl Zealand branch of the British Red' Cross Society has existed, nor are there any rules laid down which govern the constitution of the two organisations when co-operating together m time of war. "Following the precedent of the parent societies who axe OQ-operating together at the present time in the. United Kingdom, it seenis likely that on all future occasions similar arrangements will be come to. , I "I have therefore desired Colonel Moorhouse to forward to you a sug-, gested draft which has been compiled! largely on the constitution at present in vogue in the Commonwealth of Australia, and I should be glad if your organisations would give the matter careful consideration. , | "I suggest that we should hare a( meeting in Christchurch ou Tuesday,) February 20, when this, and any other i matters which your centre may desire I to bring before the council, could be discussed. ! "I suggest that the programme should be as follows:—That the three delegates from each of the four centres together with the secretary of the council should meet first at the Red Cross rooms, Worcester Street, Christ-' church, to interchange views on th» proposed constitution, and further that they will at the same time consider a form of constitution which" could be made applicable to the organisation of the local committees in the fouri centres, and sub-centres, so that it could be ultimately included in the general constitution. "I do not propose to be present a a this discussion, but shall subsequently be very pleased to meet all the dele- ' gates at " Elmwood " at 3 p.m. on the same date, for the final adoption of the constitution." Mr E. Nordon said he was opposed to centralisation, and to threp men being permitted to sit in Wellington to decide whether Canterbury or any other district should contribute £IOtXT or not. , One member said that if there wai a central committee it would find out sooner what was required for hospital thips and so forth.