The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1946 INTERESTS MERGED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 98, 12 July 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1946

INTERESTS MERGED

RED CROSS AND C.0.R.5.0. SIMPLIFYING RELIEF WORK By common consent, members of the Whakatane C.0.R.5.0. . Committee, decided last Tuesday evening to merge their interests with those of the local Red Cross Committee, ami to be known in future as the ‘Red Cross C.0.R.5.0. Committee.’ This step was taken as a result of considerable public confusion as to the various campaigns for overseas relief, and also as a means of overcoming much of the duplication of meetings and responsibilities of the same group of workers. Mr C. Kingsley-Smith presided over the following representatives: Mesdames W. Sullivan (Red Cross), B. S. Barry (Red Cross), J. Crozier (Women’s Institute), L. Bennett (Women’s Section R.S.A.), Miss North (R.N.A.), Miss Lawes (Junior Red Cross), Messrs. R: Morpeth and T. Jordan (Chamber of Commerce) and Mr Henderson (Boys’ Brigade). The Chairman pointed out that in the town already there existed four organisations appealing for overseas relief through various channels. In many cases they were quite unconsciously duplicating their efforts and confusing the public. He mentioned C. Famine Emergency, Red Cross and U.N.R.R.A., whilst several organisations such as the Girl Guides were already doing their own relief work by way of despatching clothing overseas. He felt that to carry on in this manner would be folly, as most of the workers were serving on several or all of the committees, and suggested that there should be a pooling of relief effort under one solid head, so the public would know and understand to what it was contributing. He suggested that if the local Red Cross organisation would extend its activities so as to include all the representatives in C.0.R.5.0. a common fund could be created from which could be despatched from time to time an allocation to each cause. He was certain the workers already pledged to C.0.R.5.0. would continue to work under Red Cross sponsorship, and added that he personally did not worry under what name he worked as long as money was raised, food despatched and clothing collected for the war victims overseas as speedily and as efficiently as possible. Red Cross was well established in this district and was pledged to just such work. A fusion of common effort under its banner would make for far more effective appeals, and far less confusion of the public mind.

All persons present expressed their views which were in accord with what the _ chairman had said. Mrs Winstone pointed out that as Red Cross was already supporting C.0.R.5.0. and Famine Emergency she did not think there would be any great difficulty in arranging for a combining of forces and of achieving the same. ends.

Mr Sullivan agreed that the suggestion would simplify the position but impressed upon those present that she would not like any member of the C.0.R.5.0. committee to imagine that Red Cross had usurped their privileges or prerogatives. Any move to merge was merely with the idea of consolidating and easing the present set-up, as she saw it.

On the chairman’s motion it was decided to approach the Red Cross

Committee for a general continuation of interests along the lines abovementioned.

It was decided to allocate the sum of £l5O for immediate relief despatching £75 towards Relief Teams in Greece and £75 for food, preferably Rose Hip Syrup, to assist children.

The collection of fats occupied the meeting for some time. The chairman reported that the committee responsible for this work had undertaken to establish depots in the country, and that it was hoped to collect from the townspeople street by street with the aid of Scouts and Boys Brigade. He did not anticipate a great response from the town, but all should be invited to help. Miss Lawes had provided a container at the school and small amounts were coming in. A central depot had been established at the Family Butchery where all fat was rendered ready for despatch. It was decided to request country Red Cross centres to organise the country districts. The secretary was instructed to write notifying all member organisations of C.0.R.5.0. of the decision to merge with Red Cross and seeking their continued support.