ASSISTANCE FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

Southland Times, Issue 23460, 17 March 1938, Page 9

ASSISTANCE FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

WORK OF RED CROSS SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT FOR SOUTHLAND Expenditure totalling £217 12/3 for the benefit of ex-servicemen and their families for the year 1937 is disclosed in the annual report of the Southland Sub-Centre of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John. The report states that the average number of ex-service patients a week receiving treatment at the hospitals and sanatoria in this district for the year 1937, was as follows, the figures for 1936 being given in parentheses:— Southland Hospital 10, (11); Wallace Hospital, Riverton 3, (3); Waipiata Sanatorium 3 (3); total 16, (17). During the year 63 issues of underclothing were granted from the Red Cross depot, of these 21 were to exservice patients discharged from the Southland Hospital, two from Wallace Hospital, two from Waipiata Sanatorium, and 33 to out-patients and necessitous cases. Flannel and flannelette were granted to 30 soldiers’ wives and widows who were in need of assistance. The total number of parcels supplied was 93. In 1936 the number granted was 82. The average weekly number of exservice patients at the Southland Hospital during the year was 10, the previous year’s figures being 11. The women of the committee visited the hospital weekly, taking the soldier patients tobacco, sweets and reading material and were always willing and ready to assist the men in any way they could. The secretary visited the men each week and was always ready to assist them with pensions or in any way he could. The Rev. J. H. Thomson has also visited the soldier patients weekly, distributing an issue of tobacco and sweets to the men. The sum of £lBl 5/9 in cash was paid out for comforts and £36 6/6 from stock making together the sum of £217 12/3 distributed this year. The stock decreased from £ll3 11/4 in 1936 to £77 4/10 in 1937. This expenditure represented a decrease of £32 12/1 on last year’s figures. Last year’s expenditure amounted to £250 4/4. This was accounted for by the increase of underclothing issued. Last year issues were made to the number of 82 against 93 this year. A grant of £5O was received from the Lord Nuffield Fund, out of the Mayor’s allocation, and also a grant of £l5O from the Minister of Internal Affairs, from the Art Union funds.

This committee worked harmoniously with the Returned Soldiers’ Association and the Southland War Funds Association and expressed its thanks to these organizations for co-operation during the past year. The women assisted with Poppy Day as in previous years. Thanks and appreciation were expressed to the medical superintendents, doctors, matrons and staffs of the Southland Hospital, the Wallace Hospital, Waipiata Sanatorium and matron and staff of Lome Hospital, for unremitting care and attention to the soldier patients. Thanks were also extended to the Southland Boxing Association, Southland Wrestling Association, Southland Rugby Football Union, Southland Racing Club, Invercargill Trotting Club. Birchwood Hunt Club, Wairio Jockey Club and Southland Caledonian Society for complimentary tick-

ets to the soldier patients, and the following bus proprietors for generously carrying Red Cross parcels to the country districts free of charge, Southland News Company, contractors to The Southland Times, Mr Weavers, Mr McIntosh, Mr Heenan and the H. and H. Bus Company. These concessions were greatly appreciated by the society. MEETING OF EXECUTIVE The monthly meeting of the executive of the Invercargill Red Cross Society was held on Tuesday afternoon. Those present were: Mesdames J. G. Petrie (president), A. Hanan, R. Henderson and Miss M. A. Hunter. Several applications for assistance were dealt with. The women reported having visited the hospitals fortnightly, distributing tobacco and sweets to the soldier patients. At present there were 14 soldier patients in the hospitals.