RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 6

RED CROSS SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Red Cross Society was attended by the Rev. Bryan King (chair). Lady Ferguson, Mrs George Roberts, Misses Rattray, M'Lean, Williams and Graham, Messrs E. A. Rosevear, C. B. Smith, J. W. Sineaton, H. E. Barrowclough, and the secretary, E. J. Johnston. An apology was received from Mr J. C. Jeffrey. The chairman, on behalf of members, extended a welcome to Mr Smeaton'and Mr Barrowclough, who have joined the executive.

Mention was made of sever»l special cases of distress, the result of the recent flood. Mrs Marshall Macdonald had fur-, nished reports, and it had been deemed advisable to give some assistance to meet these special cases. A report regarding wireless for Pleasant Valley was received and approved. A letter was received from the Otago Hospital Board expressing thanks for gifts of clothing, cigarettes, fruit and magazines for patients •at Wakari HospitaL The superintendent of the Seacliff Mental Hospital wrote thanking the society for gifts of tobacco and cigarettes. ’

A report received from Sister, Kirkpatrick showed that peace time work was receiving full attention. At the various schools and colleges health talks and addresso. on Junior Red Cross had been given, and home nursing and special health classes had been conducted. A number of young people who have taken home'nursing and first aid instruction at schools, or as Guides, had been interested in hospital sendee by Mrs Marshall Macdonald. A meeting . was arranged at the Red Cross room and a programme discussed. It was suggested that they should continue their studies with St. John Ambulance and obtain, senior first aid certificates, and afterwards, with the Red Cross sisters, qualify for the homo nursing certificate, Since then Friday afternoon at the public hospital had been arranged for visiting. A number of secondary school girls were putting their home nursing studies into practice 'by ■ visiting the hospital on Saturday afternoons. These girls wore overalls and caps, and greatly enjoyied the duties assigned to them.— Fifteen schools, where there are Junior Red Cross Circles, • were appealed to by letter, for assistance for flood relief, and the response had far exceeded expectations.' In most cases the money was sent in as a school Contribution. Musselburgh School sent in a fine supply of food and clothing. Mr King said that the Education Department’ thought so highly of the health lectures that it has had'them circulated among the schools.

Copies of reports were received from Sisters Lewis, Lees, Christian, Corkill and Inglis. The reports show that peace time work was steadily developing in Canterbury, West Coast, Wellington and Taranaki. In some of the outlying districts farmers' wives were taking a keen interest in the home nursing, classes. Members of Junior Red Cross Circles were applying themselves with great enthusiasm to their various activities. Headquarters advised that the fourth congress of the Imperial Hygiene Council would be held in London in July next, and that Dr Colquhoun had been appointed to act as special delegate for the New Zealand Rod Cross Society. At 'the recent Red Cross Conference at Wellington the chairman, the Hon. Dr W. E. Collins, made complimentary reference to the satisfactory result of the year’B activities of all centres as disclosed in the reports. Miss Williams reported that soldier patients in the Dunedin Hospital had been visited as usual, and comforts supplied to them. There were about 20 men receiving treatment.

r Roberts said that the men at VVakari were receiving the usual attention, The men were pleased at the interest taken in them, and appreciated the little gifts sent up. The matron at Montecillo reported that seven patients had been admitted and five discharged. There were 14 patients in the Lome. Mr Rosevear, for the Monteciiio Committee, reported that the home had been regularly visited, and everything was found satisfactory. Some, of the men had not been very well, Mr Rosevear referred to a special case of a returned man whose health had broken down, and the eolmnittee had thought it wise to admit this man to Montecillo, where he would have an opportunity of improving in health.—On the motion of Miss M'Lean, seconded by Miss Williams, the action was confirmed. ’

A satisfactory financial statement was submitted and adopted, ,