BRITISH RED CROSS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 69

BRITISH RED CROSS.

ARRIVAL OF SECRETARYGENERAL. WELLINGTON, February 28. Brigadier-general H. F. BatemanChampain (Secretary-general of the British Red Cross) arrived by the Maunganui from Sydney to-day, and was met at the wharf by the chairman of the New Zealand Executive of the Red Cross Society (Mr J. A. Flesher), the chairman of the Wellington Centre Executive (Mr J. Burnett), the chairman of the Peace-time Division (Mr C. 11. Chapman), and Mr M. S. Galloway (secretary). General Bateman-Champain, who is accompanied by his wife and two daughters, said that unfortunately his stay in New Zealand could only be a short one, as he had to leave by the Ulimaroa from Auckland on March 23 to catch the Oronsay at Sydney on his way back Home. On Friday night he would leave for the South Island and proceed to Dunedin on Saturday morning. Thence he would go to Invercargill, and from there tc Christchurch. Returning to Wellington on March 14, he would go to New Plymouth, Rotorua, and Auckland, so that he could only spend a day or two in each centre.

“ I am a- representative of the League of Red Cross Societies,”, said General Bateman-Champain, “an international organisation, the object of which is to encourage the national Red Cross societies to continue their operations in peacetime. lam not here to lay down in any sense any hard and fast lines for your Red Cross Society here to work on, but rather to see what you are doing in the Dominion, and encourage the good work. I have come to learn just as much as to instruct.” At noon a civic reception was accorded Brigadier-general Bateman-Cham-pain. Among those present were Sir Francis Bell (Leader of the Legislative Council), Mr R. A. Wright (Minister of Education), and Mr J. A. Young (Minister of Health). Sir Francis Bell, on behalf of tne Prime Minister and the Government and people of New Zealand, accorded the distinguished visitors a most cordial welcome. Ihe Government, he said, was entirely in accord with the objects of the Red Cross organisation, and would oe glad of the opportunity of rendering any assistance in its power to General Bate-man-Champain during his tour of the Dominion. The New Zealand branches of the Red Cross Society were proud io be branches of the British -Red Cross organisation. Mr J. A. Young also joined in welcom ing the visitors.

Mr Flesher (Christchurch) heartily welcomed the visitors on behalf of the South Island branches of the Red Cross Society. General Bateman-Champain said that he and the members of his family appreciated the splendid welcome accorded them, not as a personal tribute, but rathei as showing the great esteem in which the Red Cross societies of the world, and particularly the British Red Cross Society, were held in the Dominion. That both the civic authorities and the Government of the country should extend such cordial appreciation of and sympathy with the work of the Red Cross societies was something unique in his experience, and therefore all the more valued. There was not the same bond of sympathy existing quite so closely in other countries between the civic authorities, the Government, and the Red Cross societies as there seemed to be in New Zealand, and that sympathy was to him exceedingly gratiiying. With Mr Flesher he wished to stress the point that the nrimary object of the Red Cross societies in peace, time was to care for the ex-soldiers and to emphasise the fact that thev did not wish to “ butt in ” and take the lead, or interfere in any wav with the -work of purely civic organisations in regard to alleviating sickness and suffering amongst the civil population. They only desired to co-operate with and help the civic organisations as much as they could >n their good work.

Brigadier - general Bateman - Chainpain was entertained at luncheon by the Wellington Rotary Club this afternoon.'