RED CROSS SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 8

RED CROSS SOCIETY

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. The seventh annual report of the Otago Centro of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John states, inter alia:—During the year just closed this centre of the Red Cross endeavoured to Its utmost to minister to the needs of sick and wounded soldiers, the members giving most willingly of their time, service, and counsel. Ihis centre also added to its obligations by taking over from the Patriotic and Welfare Society the supplying of comforts to soldier patients in Dunedin Hospital, Wnkari Sanatorium, and elsewhere. Since the last report the Queenstown brunch had closed down and the balance of funds, £l3 Os sd. handed over to this centre for the of patients at Montecillo and Wakari. The Queenstown branch rendered signal service in attending to the needs of soldier patients convalescing at Queenstown, and the • executive and the patients also have very deeply appreciated this service. The Invercargill Red Cross has been supplying comforts to soldier patients in the Invercargill Hospital and elsewhere in the Southland district. The committee arranged for the use of several invalid chairs to enable ' a number _of patients to get about more easily. pie patients concerned have expressed then grateful thanks, both verbally and by letter. A number of T.B. cases have been supplied with shelters and bedding by the Defence Department, and the Red Cross Committee has supplied blankets and clothing. .Following ar» interview with Dr Lincoln Wirt, Commissioner for Near East Relief, the Red Cross branches throughout Otago wore circularised and public meetings were held, the results being a fair response in the matter of cash and goods. The garden fete, hold at Montecillo on Saturday. December 9, primarily to afford the patients an -opportunity of disposing of samples of their work, was a pronounced success. As pointed out in the pievious report, this centre affirmed the principle of a Joint Peace Council to undertake peacetime work. On January 24 last the Hon. Dr Collins. C.M.G., chairman of the New Zealand Red Cross Council, addressed the members of the executive on the above subject. Montecillo Home: Through The medium of the Montecillo Home, the executive is meeting the needs of sick and wounded soldiers as far as it is humanly possible and it has been the aim of the committee and staff, in the interests of the patients, to promote a real homo atmosphere The health of the men is looked after-by Lieut.-colonel Marshall, AssistantDirector of Medical Services, to whom the society owes a. deep debt of gratitude for |)is ready assistance and courtesy. Thirty is the average'number of patients in the home. Motor-car: The ear has been kept busy conveying men to the Public Hospital for treatment, on visits to Wakari, and in providing outings to the country for soldier patients. The grounds surrounding the home have been improved, and are kept in first-class order, duo to the efforts of Mr Moir the gardener, who is a returned soldier. ’ As a result of the recent flood in the city a portion of the Drive leading to the home came away. It has been necessary to erect a concrete wall to repair the damage and this has entailed considerable expense to the society. It has been most gratifying to the president and members of the executive to receive many evidences of appreciation of the society’s work. Donations,' gifts, and letters received testify to the sympathetic interest of citizens- in the. welfare of our sick and wounded soldiers. Soldier patients themselves at Montecillo, Dunedin Hospital, Wakari, and Pleasant Yalloy Sanatorium, and elsewhere have expressed their deen appreciation, both by word and letter, of the efforts in their behalf- -