BENEVOLENT WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 6

BENEVOLENT WORK

JOINT COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Joint Council of the Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Association was attended by the Rev. V. G. Bryan King (president). Miss Frances Rattray. Miss B. Farauhar, Messrs C. V. Smith. A. N. Haggitt and J W Smeaton. A letter was received from the Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League concerning securing the services of the vocational instructress for men outside of hospitals and other institutions. —The chairman said that, as a number of the soldier patients were unable to attend the vocational workshops. Miss Miller’s time was practically fully taken up. They did not wish to make matters too onerous for her. —lt was resolved that it be left with Mr King and Miss Miller to go into the question to see if anything could be done.

The Southland War Funds Association and Returned Soldiers’ Assbciation asked the committee to admit three Southland ex-soldiers to the Red Cross Home for two or three months. They were prepared to defray a portion of maintenance.—The chairman said that Dr Fergus (medical officer) had approved admittance. —His action was confirmed. A letter was received from Mr S. D. Neill. Consul for France, advising that Captain Plante and officers of the French sloop Rigault de Genouilly would accept the invitation to visit the soldiers' home at Montecillo on Friday at 10.30 a.m. Miss Rattray , and Mi King reported tor the hospital visitors Each man had greatly appreciated the interest taken in his case and also the little gifts from the society It was noted that, with the approach of winter, the number of ex-service men requiring treatment tended to increase There were now five men at Wakari and 21 at Dunedin Hospital Matron Douglass submitted a satisfactory report concerning the Red Cross Home. During the month nine patients were discharged, one was transferred, and ope readmitted from the Public Hospital and five new natienls were admitted. There at present 21 men in the home Grateful thanks were returned to many friends for gifts, outings by motor, and passes to sports meetings and entertainments. For the Horne Committee. Mr Smeaton said that the patients generally were responding well to rest and treatment. One patient who recently entered the home ; a very sick man had made excellent progress. Everything possible was done to maintain the traditions of the home.