RED CROSS AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 70, 8 January 1947, Page 5

RED CROSS AFFAIRS

VISIT OF CAPTAIN GALLOWAY DOMINION SECRETARY’S PRAISE

The Red Cross rooms were well filled on a recent evening when Captain M. S. Galloway, Dominion Secretary, visited Whakatane and addressed a meeting. He commenced by complimenting the Eastern Bay of Plenty Centre on the steady and excellent work done for the Red Cross and in particular in building its own Red Cross Headquarters from whence the work can continue to radiate.

The speaker gave a brief summary of the formation of the Red Cross Society in New Zealand. In 1914 there was no Red Cross in New Zealand although the Australian Red Cross was founded in 1915. In 1917 a branch of the British Red Cross was formed which was the beginning of our own New Zealand Red Cross Society. Captain Galloway emphasised the debt owed to the International Red Cross Committee and instanced some of the work done for Prisoners of War. It was through the International Red ‘Cross and through Red Cross only that parcels were delivered to Prisoners of War.

White Angels The International Red Cross used sealed trains to take parcels to ' 'camps, and later, when the Continental railway system was shattered, Red Cross white painted lorries universally known as “White Angels.” Early in the war the Red Cross acquired a ship of its own, of 1000 tons, to carry all Red Cross parcels and comforts at the end- of the war it had a “fleet” of 11 vessels totalling over 500,000 tons. He urged that more support should be given financially to the International Red Cross. “We owe a great.debt to the citizens of Switzerland,” he said, - “they"' financed 75 per cent, of the services to Prisoners of War early in the war, and never subscribed less than 50 per cent, of the cost. Office work and records not inclusive parcels etc. “We are all members of the International Red Cross,” he added, '“which is formed of the neutral International Committee of Swiss citizens, arid the League of Red Cross Societies which is formed of the National Red Cross Societies of 53 lands. Outlawing Atomic Warfare Captain Galloway said Red Cross nearer to 100 per cent, of its funds than any other organisation. The Red Cross is even now preparing to remodel the Geneva .Convention in the event of another war, with special stress on the outlawing of atomic energy in warfare. The outlawing of the use of gas and bacterial warfare in the recent conflict was through the .Geneva Convention, and in 1938 strenuous efforts were being made by Red Cross to prevent bombing from the air, or at least to make certain areas for civilians immune from attack. This was opposed at the time by Germany, Italy and Japan, but the effort will be renewed. Fighting Epidemics The speaker asserted that the terrible epidemics that usually followed war had not taken great hold this time, though the devastation was greater than in any previous war. Early during hostilities the International Red Cross established a huge warehouse where supplies of serum, drugs and medical supplies were stored. As soon as typhus or some ■ Other evil epidemic reared its ugly head supplies of serum etc. were rushed to the spot, and thus the .evil was scotched before it could spread. When it is realised that the 1918 post-war influenze outbreak .caused more deaths than four years of war, the value of these preventive measures can be appreciated. Work of the Juniors Captain Galloway mentioned also the health research which was carried on by International Red Cross which put its knowledge at the service of- the Governments of the countries that wished to avail themselves of the privilege. The Junior Red Cross should be encouraged as a source of International Friendship and the building of character. “Some time ago,” he said, “we received a letter from China thanking the New Zealand Red Cross for a small monetary donation. Thinking, this letter would interest them it was circulated to Juniors. Within two weeks over £2OOO was donated by New Zealand Juniors for China without any request being made to them.” In addition Juniors in New Zealand had sent 20 cases of toys to Greece, and he was interested to see that evening the basket of beautifully •made toys from Tawera Native School, Whakatane. The speaker suggested work to be done by Red Cross Centres at present. “Britain needs food badly—-

keep on sending food to her. “If ever a nation saved civilisation British people did. At one stage her men were being “chased all over the earth,” but you never heard the smallest murmur of defeat. Secondly we must help Europe. Not only because we are our brothers keeper, but, at the lowest estimate, if we do not epidemic and disaster will sweep the world.” Captain Galloway told how a young bride, had come into his office and donated an anonymous cheque of £IOOO with the request that it be spent on the relief of distress. It had been spent on medical supplies for Yugoslavia, Austria and other Balkan countries. He said that now the National Red Cross Societies in over-run countries were being reorganised relief supplies would be channelled through Red Cross. UNRRA was no longer there to distribute.

As an instance of the international friendliness of Red Cross the speaker said that at the time of the Napier earthquake enquiries from Geneva as to the need for help resulted in £BOOO being received in one week from countries including Britain, Japan, Sweden, America, Australia, Norway, “even Turkey whom we had been fighting a few years before.” The need for keeping the V.A.D. active was proved then, when, within two hours, there were 103 cars ready to leave for Napier with V.A.s and medical supplies. Captain Galloway concluded by saying that he was very pleased to be able to address the Bay of Plenty Centre which though a small Centre had an excellent record, and he asked that Centres give more financial support to New Zealand Red Cross headquarters which was" actually the vital centre of the organisation but was entirely dependent upon its Centres for financial support, without which it could not function.