THE RED CROSS PIONEERS OF ST. JOHN

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12196, 22 July 1925, Page 4

THE RED CROSS PIONEERS OF ST. JOHN

DOMINION ACTIVITIES. Important matters were diseupsed at a meeting: of the standing committee of the Dominion executive of St.. John last Thursday, at which . Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Knight of the Order of St. John of; Jerusalem, presided. Considerable correspondence from all parts of the Domiiiioh end outside had accumulated and some of this' was submitted for special attention by the honoraty secretary < (Mr W. B. Fisher). Following is an abridgment: pf some, of, the activities, carried out -in. several districts. NEW PLYMOUTH CENTRE His Worship, the Mayor, who presided at a recent meeting, congratulated the students of St.' John in ciemenirary surgery by ' remarking that theirs was the most economically organised effort in the Dominion.* • All the workers had given their services freely, and so were enabled to ,show a substantial credit balance in, hand. Special thanks were due to the medical profession for theiy invaluable aid. . The incoming committee ciocided that in the public interest they would, . not. recognise any certificates Issued' for "Ambulance,” "Homo Nurn* ing/‘ "Military Sanitation/’ or other kindred snbjeets unless such were authorised by the St. John Ambulance Association. ‘ WANGANUI CENTRE : Pseudo ambulance organisers had been .wilted off the district, while all branches df St. John arc extending activities and tho motor ambulance is frequently in demand. Thoro are no paid officials, ns the members carry out the transport and other duties in an admirable spirit of self-vsnorifico. • To* mark their approval of the St. John work the citizens recently subscribed <£l2l for general upkeep. AUCKLAND CENTRE A letter to hand from Auckland intimates that in response to an appeal made by Lady Gunson (vice-president) d-IUOO was recently subscribed to lieln tho district, nurses of• St. John in their ministrations among tho aiek poor. "Tend ye the sick and injured” has been the every day duty of St. John since the oreanisaturn was established, and this spirit will be maintained as long ns civilisation lasts. DUNEDIN CENTRE The : net result of a St. John carnival was d6lf>Sß in hid qf the district nursing service and a new Austin motor recently purchased for thte transport of the sick and injured; This'is the third motor ninhulnnoc obtained by St. John for Dunedin. Tt undertakes tho long trips outside of tho’. city, and provides nil possible comfort for tbe patients. CHRISTCHURCH CENTRE Tn the city of the plains, where the "British Bod l Cross" was started in New Zealand by the St. John Ambulance Association on /he outbreak of the Grea! War, the authorities’ are ermoontruHng on tbe usual /ner.ce time activates. The nmnnsement at Christchurch, like all the other centres, is up-to-date and successful results are assured. INVERCARGILL CENTRE Tn t*»o of Southland the St. John Ap-»h*d»»'cp is . also (-.horded with the elvontinit of men and women in the motto ‘'Tend ye

the Sick and Injured/* and every year it gives to the community a large number of people who are ready to help sufferers in a practical way. Medical practitioners unanimously support this aim, and the work is gradually being extended throughout the .district. WELLINGTON CENTRE Little can be added to the Splendid testimony giVen by His Excellency the Governor at the Town Hall three weeks ago on behalf of the St. John Ambulance Association* The public of Wellington have' been particularly generous in the past with, their subscriptions for the upkeep of two skilled nurses, who minister to the sick poor, and a third nurse may be appointed shortly. Tho ambulance committee, however, is restricted, in its work through lack. of suitable quarters, and although about ,£BOOO is in hand towards this goal, this sum is not sufficient. Will some warm-hearted friends come alonk and hand in their cheques? Such a step would relieve the officials of much financial anxiety, "Freely ye have Received/’ "Freely Give.” "Tend ye the Sick-'and Injured,” No other organisation,, said Lord Jellicoe on the 18lh of last November, is so efficient to carry out the work of healing and helping as St, John. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE A letter was received from London in which the writer stated that it is understood at headquarters that there is no direct connection between tho British Rod Cross Society and tho local Wellington Red Cross Society.—lt was decided to make further inquiries on this point, and if-correot, to bring the matter before tho public later on.