RED CROSS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 54, 16 July 1947, Page 5

RED CROSS

REGIONAL CONFERENCE

WHAKATANE GATHERING What is believed to be the first Regional Conference took place between Bay of Plenty Red Cross Centres in the Red Cross rooms last Saturday. Five delegates from the Opotiki Centre, Mrs Gault, Mrs Clark (secretary), Mrs Quirk, Mrs Baird and Mrs Badeley, four from RotoruaTaupo Centre Mrs Hay, Mrs Law, Mr and Mrs Birkby (Mr Birkby being Centre secretary), three from Tauranga Centre Mrs Richards, Mrs Boyce (Junior Red Cross) and Mrs Kirkby, and four from Te Puke Mrs Searle, Mrs Hickson, Mrs Kelly and Miss Carruth were present while the Eastern Bay of Plenty Centre was represented by Mrs W. Sullivan, president, who presided, Mrs Prideaux (V.A.D.), Mrs Barry, Mrs L. B. Smith, Mrs Mexted, Mrs Carter, Mrs Roberts, Mrs Winstone, secretary, and Miss Lawes (Junior Red Cross). A blazing log fire welcomed the delegates on their arrival and beautifully arranged bowls of flowers made the rooms gay though the bales of clothing awaiting repair and despatch for . the “Save the Children” Appeal testified to their utility. Mrs Sullivan, in greeting the visitors thanked them for travelling such a long way to attend the meeting. It was believed to be the first Regional Conference held by the Society in New Zeaand, and she hoped it would prove both interesting and useful. As the delegates had left home early a morning tea and lunch combined was served early before the business of the day began.

Remits for the annual meeting of the Society, to take place in Auckland next week were discussed, and for the most part approved. The burning question of finance was the cause of most interesting

discussion. The difficulties of Headquarters in administering the organisation on a limited income, and the problems of raising funds were included; Each Centre gave their own methods of raising funds, keeping up membership etc., and the result was inspiring, helpful and a cause of great admiration for the’results achieved. A Dominion-wide Red Cross Day was universally approved.

Afternoon tea made a welcome break, and Miss Boyce and Miss Lawes reported on Junior Red Cross work in their respective districts. This was again a cause for congratulation, and the work done, and funds raised by the Juniors was a credit to the organisation and in particular to the Juniors themselves.

C.0.R.5.0. was discussed, Mrs Winstone explained that the executive recommended that the Red Cross Society should sever its connection with C.0.R.5.0. except for the work in for tfie teams in' Greece and China to which the Red Cross had pledged support. > C.0.R.5.0. was originally formed to work with UNRRA, which had now disbanded. Other organisations overseas formed for the same purpose had gone out of existence when UNRRA ceased to function. The League of Red Cross Societies had decreed that Red Cross must channel all relief through its own organisation, and thus Red Cross could not send Red Cross relief supplies through C.0.R.5.0. In fact the only means of distributism

open to C.0.R.5.0. in many countries were the National Red Cross Societies.

Mr Birkby moved a vote of thanks to the Eastern Bay of Plenty Centre for -their invitation to the conference, for the arrangements made and for their hospitality. He thanked Mrs Sullivan for her very able chairmanship and Mrs Winstone for presenting Headquarters point of view. They had had an enjoyable and instructive day, and he hoped it would bear fruit in their own Centres. Mrs Kirkby seconded, saying they would return home, inspired by the discussions and fired with a desire to obtain Red Cross rooms of their own. She admitted that she envied Whakatane “their beautiful rooms.” The vote was carried by acclamation.