RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

Southland Times, Issue 18834, 29 May 1920, Page 10

RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

THE GENEVA CONVENTION. Mr Bernard Tripp, one of the New Zeaj land delegates to the International Confer: ence of the League of Red Cross Societies p.f Geneva, which concluded on March 10, i furnishes the following report to the New j Zealand Times:—Delegates were present ; from twenty-seven nations. The conference ' was a great success and much enthusiasm was shown. The main paints agreed on by (he conference may he set out- briefly. 1 First.—-The International Committee of the Red Cross Societies is for war work only. Ihc League of Red Cross Societies is for peace work. The British Red Cross propose to alter their constitution to give the , present committees power to form theraI selves into International Red Cross Sociei ties for war work or League of Red Cross Societies for pear.c, in order to carry out the work of either society, j Second. —The league has enough money 1 in hand for at least two years without calling on any country to subscribe. If New ! Zealand joins the league, as I sincerely , hope she will, she will be asked in two j years’ time to find her quota,, which will be small. The council have not yet decided on what form this quota shall he fixed, j Third.—The league wish to leave the in- ' ternal management of Red Cross Societies in each country to themselves to make i what arrangements and rules they like. It i was suggested privately that each delegate I who attended the Geneva Conference should I have a seat on the executive in the country •he represents when he returns home. This 1 will help to keep the objects of the league before them. ! Fourth.—One week a year is to be set 1 aside in every country for an appeal for membership of the league of the Red Cross. This appeal is to be held in the month , of May every year. ! Fifth.—The objects of the League of the ; Red Cross are recognised in the Covenant ' of the League of Nations, which reads as follows“ The members of the league ! agree lo encourage and promote the establishment and co-opcrat’or. of duly authorised voluntary national Red Cross organisations, having ns purposes the improvement !of health, the prevention of disease, and : the mitigation of suffering throughout the world.” Sixth.—The League of the Red Cross in each country' is not to interfere or take I over existing societies already working for j the benefit of mankind, but to offer to help | them with finance and organisation. The j league is to try and obtain better living conditions for workers on land and sea; (to look after child welfare; help with disi trict nurses. In fact, they are to take up Sny object, that they think will be a benefit to humanity in all countries of the world.