OFFICIALLY OPENED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 51, 12 March 1946, Page 4

OFFICIALLY OPENED

RED CROSS BUILDING DEDICATION TO SERVICE An event which was a highlight in the annals of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society took place in Whakatane last Saturday when over a hundred people assembled for the dedication and official opening of the Red Cross Building. His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, presided.

The. Boys’ Band opened the proceedings by playing a selection, followed by the hymn, -the 100th Psalm, sung by those present. Mr Barry welcomed the visitors and read congratulatory messages from Mr C. G. White, Chairman Executive, N.Z. Red Cross Society, Miss H. Iris Crooke, Director General N.Z. Red Cross V.A.D., and Captain M. S. Galloway, Dominion Secretary, who regretted their inability to be present. Apologies were also received from the Rev. and Mrs Wilson, Rev. and Mrs Attwood, Rev. and Mrs Starnes, Mr Mullins, Chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr Burnett, Chairman of the Whakatane County Council, and Miss Runeiman.

President’s Remarks

Mrs W. Sullivan, President of the Red Cross Centre, especially welomed Major A. E. Gibbons, President of the Waikato Centre and members of the Dominion Executive, who had kindly attended in the unavoidable absence of Mr White.

“We are very glad to see members of the St. John Association, with whom our relationships have been very happy,” said Mrs Sullivan. “The St. John have helped us whenever they could, and we in our turn have helped them. The Red Cross Officers and Committee and the .majority of the members are women and we are proud to be able to regard this building as the women’s achievement. The building will be free of debt. The Registered Nurses’ Association, who act in an advisory capacity to the V.A.D. will have a room in the building as their meeting room, and their contribution would cover such charges as rates etc. In the future we hope to build shops in the front part of the section for lease, and so secure a regular income to the Society. The committee is grateful to the Mayor and Councillors and other businessmen in the town who have assisted us whenever we have asked, especially for their advice regarding the building. Red Cross here is part—if a small part—of International Red Cross, and we must keep it alive ; having our own headquarters ensures a focal point for all Red Cross work in this district.”

Townspeoples Appreciation Mr B. S. Barry said the occasion was appropriate to record appreciation of the work of the Red Cross ladies. They had raised large sums for the Patriotic Fund, as well as for Red Cross ; they had united with the Lady Galway Guild to send over 13,000 garments overseas for relief purposes ; the Junior Red Cross was an active and enthusiastic band and the V.A.D. were of very great assistance to the Hospital, which had suffered badly from understaffing.

Warm Congratulations

Major Gibbons said he was very glad to be present, and warmly congratulated Whakatane on having its own building, which was a splendid one. Although Whakatane was a small Centre it was very highly thought of in Wellington, and it had a record to be proud of. He apologised for the absence of Mr White, Dominion Chairman, who was detained in Wellington over discussions on civil aviation, and who, he was sure, greatly regretted being unable to attend. Major Gibbons gave a brief resume on the origin of the International Red Cross, and the formation of the N.Z. Red Cross Society, and reminded his listeners that this Centre was linked with the International Red Cross through the League of Red Cross Societies. Mr White would be representing New Zealand at a meeting of the League about May of this year. Sphere of Work Major Gibbons mentioned the large scope that Red Cross work covered in other lands and pointed out that the social security and oth-

er laws here obviated the need for a lot of this work. He stressed the need. to keep the Red Cross actiye and pointed out the terrible conations prevalent in some countries overseas, and the urgent need for help, in clothing and food. Major Gibbons outlined the scheme operated by his Centre for sending food to Britain, and offered to assist the Eastern Bay of Plenty Centre in such a scheme. The speaker concluded by saying he could give no better message than that given by the Duke of Gloucester to Red Cross —“Remain prepared.” All the speakers were warmly applauded.

Dedication Ceremony The dedication of the building was performed by the Rev. H. Bell, who read St. Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Chap. 14 (revised edition). “Though I speak with the tongue of men and of angels and have not love, I. am become as sounding brass, and tinkling cymbal . . . and now. abideth Faith, Hope and Love, these three, and greatest of these is love.” Those present joined in reciting the V.A.D. prayer followed by the Lord’s Prayer ; the building was dedicated and the benediction pronounced by the Rev. Bell.

Afternoon Tea Served _■ The members of the Society in- • vited their guests to inspect the building, which called forth many congratulatory remarks, while the V.A.D. Detachment served a dainty afternoon tea, to which those present did full justice. Local bodies and organisations were well represented, among the guests were Mr W. Sullivan M.P., Mr and Mrs R. Boon, Mrs B. Barry, Colonel Prideaux and Mrs Prideaux 3nr., and many others, including visitors from Tauranga Red Cross Centre.