RED GROSS SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12285, 6 April 1918, Page 13

RED GROSS SOCIETY.

Meeting of Executive.

The executive of the Red Cross Society met in the committee's rooms, Worcester Street, yesterday afternoon. Mr A. E. G. Rhodes presided over a good attendance. A vote of sympathy was carried with Mrs Cyrus Williams, who recently met with a serious accident.

In regard to the proposed fund for prisoners of war, the chairman said he thought the society should not take action until a report on the subject had been received from Colonel R. H. Rhodes.

Mr E. Nordon said that funds wpre urgently required. People were anxious and .willing to give, and he did not see why the society should delay. Colonel Rhodes’s report could not alter the fact that money was needed.

Mr Gresson said that as the Prisoners of War Department was now part of the Red Cross work, he thought they should wait for Colonel Rhodes’s report. They might have funds at Home that could be devoted for the purpose, and an appeal to the public might not bo necessary.

Mr Nordon said that there were bound to bo big casualty lists in the course of another month or so, which would thus use up any surplus money the society might have. He felt sure that the public would subscribe willingly to the prisoners of war fund.

Mr Gresson supported Mr Nordon's suggestion. Mr Nordon moved—“ That (his executive is strongly of opinion that the time has arrived when an appeal ehould be made for funds for the British prisoners of war, and that this appeal should be made throughout Ndw Zealand.”

Mr J. A. Flesher seconded the motion, which was carried. It was agreed that the resolution should be a remit to the central executive, which is to meet in Wellington next Wednesday. With regard to the appeal recently made for tins of milk and meat lor New Zealand prisoners of war, it was decided that the central executive should be notified that the Canterbury Centro was prepared to give £2OO for that purpose. A statement of the work done by the Women's Council of the Red Cross Society during the past three years was referred to the Publicity Committee with power to act. It was stated that an appeal for blankets bad been received from England, where there was a serious shortage of these necessary articles.