VALUE OF RED CROSS SEEN IN WORK OVERSEAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 23, 10 August 1949, Page 8

VALUE OF RED CROSS SEEN IN WORK OVERSEAS

The belief that the Red Cross Society was an organisation which became inactive after the war was one commonly accepted by New Zealanders, said, the director-general of Voluntary Aid Detachments of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, Miss H. I. Crooke, Wellington, in an address to a large attendance at Hamilton. If anything, the Red Cross became even more active after the war, and its peacetime functions included the prevention of disease, the promotion of health and the relief of suffering, she added. Miss Crooke was one of three New Zealand delegates to represent the society at the 17th international conference of the society recently held at Stockholm. She was away from New Zealand for 10 months and dur_ ing that time travelled widely throughout Europe. Reminiscences of her tour, with particular reference to the functions of the .Red Cross in other countries, v/ere given during her address. Londoners’ Gratitude

New Zealanders were so well off that it was difficult for them to realise the value of Red Cross, said Miss Crooke. They did not receive the benefit of the society. During her visit to London the true value of the society was fully brought home to her in the reactions of people to the generosity of the people of New Zealand who contributed parcels. “It was quite embarrassing in London,” said Miss Crooke. “It was common for people to stop me in the street when they saw my Red Cross badge and ask me to convey thanks to the people of New Zealand for the food parcels. “You will hear it said that there is no need to send parcels to England now,” said Miss Crooke. But they were needed badly, she declared, and did much to lift the morale of the English people. The British Red Cross Society was doing invaluable work, and more than 2500 meals a month were being served to old people by the society.

Britain’s Work The British Red Cross Society, which had well-patronised depots at every little village throughout the country, received many strange requests for food, and rarely were they not acceded to. Just before she left England the society was preparing to send voluntary aids and nurses to work in Transjordan. Reports, received since by her indicated that these nurses were doing great work. Arab refugees suffering badly from malnutrition were also being aided by the Red Cross, and nurses were receiving about 100 patients a day under appalling conditions. Tuberculosis, malaria, and snake bite were among the many diseases being fought by the nurses there. Strenuous Conference

The Stockholm conference was a strenuous time for the delegates of the 58 participating nations. Qne thing she did learn from the deliberations was that if there was to be another war there would not be the mass deportation of refugees there was during Hitler’s reign, said Miss Crooke. The conference was presided over by Count Bernadotte, whose understanding and tact not only made him an ideal chairman, but popular with delegates. His assassination came as a great shock to those who attended the conference. From Sweden Miss Crooke travelled to Norway, and it was here that she realised what it was to have freedom. The attitude of Norwegians who suffered terrific hardships and torture during the German occupation was that “death was a small price to pay for freedom.” She found many people there who were cripples as the result of torture. Incidents of her tour through Vienna and Germany were also vividly described by Miss Crooke.