FOOD AND CLOTHING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27447, 21 July 1950, Page 4

FOOD AND CLOTHING

Gifts Sent Overseas

OTAGO CENTRE OF RED CROSS SOCIETY

During the past year, the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society 'was responsible for sending 108 cases of clothing to the British Red Cross Society for distribution to those in need in Europe. The number of articles included in these cases was 11.000, and the value of the lot would be at least £II,OOO. Since the end of the war, 70,000 articles of clothing had been sent.

These facts were mentioned by the president-chairman, Mr Charles V. Smith, at the ninth annual meeting of' the centre yesterday He paid a tribute to the work of the guild members and the packers for their continued effort.

The food for Britain work had been maintained, Mr Smith said, and 315 cases of food and 100 parcels of food had been sent to the Ministry of Food. The value of this was approximately £2200. Since the beginning of the scheme, in July, 1946, the centre had sent 2300 cases of food as well as several hundred parcels to the Ministry of Food. The Junior Red Cross was very active in Otago, Mr Smith said, and at present had a membership of 1250. with 52 active circles. The sending of food and clothing to England had been their main effort during the past year, and 20 cases of warm clothing. 16 cases of food and 100 Christmas boxes for British juniors fyad been sent overseas. 'Many other donations and gifts had been made, and one gift was of a Red Cross bed at the Roxburgh Health Camp. Interest in voluntary aid work had increased during the past year, Mr Smith said. Classes had been conducted in first aid. home nursing, hygiene and sanitation Mr Smith referred to all the various activities of the aids and to the valuable work they had done.

He mentioned the important part played by the voluntary helpers in the diversional therapy work. This department had been established at the Dunedin Public‘Hospital and Talboy's Home for three years and had proved of great value to the patients. Although there had been a decrease in the funds of the centre during the year, the finances were “ quite sound,” Mr Smith said. The levy for headquarters had been again increased to £540 He mentioned the various donations that had been made by the centre. In some cases the membership had increased, but on the whole it had remained stationary. Mr Smith appealed to all sub-centres to endeavour to introduce new members.

Officers elected were:—President and chairman, Mr Charles V Smith; vice-president, Miss E. L. Wilkin; executive—Misses G. Powley and W. Johnstone, Messrs J. W. Smeaton and O. L. Ferens (repesenting the Dunedin sub-centre), Mrs M, F. Spencer (Berwick-Maungatua), Mrs R. Urquhart (Kaitangata), Miss J. W. Stokes (Lawrence), Mrs W. J. Cockburn (Milton), Mrs B. Ewart (Mosgiel), Mrs Coutts (Owaka), Mrs F. Ellis (Waitahuna), and Mrs R. J. E. Smith (Wedderburn); honorary treasurer, Mrs L. D. Mclver; secretary, Miss Marjorie F. Harris.

At the conclusion of the meeting the “ councillor of honour ” badge—the highest honour of the society, awarded for outstanding work to the Red Cross —was accepted by Mrs Riley. It had been conferred on her late sister. Miss Cara Graham. Reference was made to the fact that Miss Graham had been informed of this high award before her recent death. Miss D. Brown, matron of the Dunedin Public Hospital and vice-presi-dent of the Dunedin sub-centre, gave an address on the “ Nurse in Every Home ’’ scheme which will be launched by the society in the near future i