N.Z. RED CROSS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16429, 24 January 1919, Page 8

N.Z. RED CROSS.

ACTIVITIES ABROAD. (from otto own correspondent.) LONDON, November 2G. Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes waa in tie chair at the last meeting of the Now Zealand Red Cross Committee. Those present were —Lady Hardwicke, Mrs Empeon, Msss 'Hay, Mr J. H. B. Coatca, Mr R. M. Macdonald,' Mr R. H.. Nolan, Mr F. E. Rosher, Mr J. Sinclair Thomson. The High Commissioner, Lady Bell, Mr Guthrie Smith, Mr R. D. D. McLean, and Mr Walde grave were not able to attend. Colonel Rhodes mado the interesting statement that. each New Zealand eoldier in hcepital is to receive a Christmas present. It is estimated that in this way_ about £1000 ■ will be expended on useful gifte. such aa purses, cigarette cases, pocket knives, photograph cases, electric torches, cigarette lighters, and so on. The cost per head authorised is not to exceed three shillings. DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD. From the depot at Southampton a considerable quantity of foodstuffs has been distributed to the various New Zealand hospitals, and advices . havo "been received offurther shipments from various Red Cross centres, but these have not yet arrived. _ Be-" cent distributions included 60 cases of jam, 36 cases of honey, 79 cases of milk, 20 cases ci. glaxo, and seven, ox caie, in aqoiUon tq

butter, meat extract, coffee, and milk. Th" requirements of the hospitals regarding Red : Cross goods have all been met. tho usual comforts have been distributed, and small things making for the comfort of .men in transports have been placed in three ships which have recently sailed for New Zealand with troops. , AN APPEAL FOR HELP. At Brockenhurst therb is'a Morani Auxiliary Hospital which is financed by a local committee and used as part,of the New Zealand hospital. The local committee is at an end of ita resources, and it has appealed to the Bed Groes. for aajistancc. The matter is having the attention of General Richardeon. A donation of £25 has been made to Lady Smith-Dorxien's 'Hospital Bag Fund, . which fund has supplied a large number of bags to • patients in the New Zealand hospitals. These bags hold tho ordinary kit supplied to sick and wounded. A VISIT TO FRANCE. j While Colonel Rhodes was in France zo- j cently he .went to Cannes / with .a view to j taking there a house suitable for a rest homo for New Zealand officers. The house eventually chosen was the Villa Victoria. ;he old'home of Mr Chamberlain. General Richardson, General Russell, Colonel parkes, and - Colonel McGavin had been consulted on tho matter, and Colonel Rhodes had been advised that tho home would still be necessary even if peace were declared, and the- agreement accordingly was. signed. Since then General Rfchordßon and General Russell have decided thatf, owing: to the demobilisation of the New Zealand Force® being likely to tako place earlier than waa expected, the suggested home muet 'bo abandoned. Accordingly ' a letfer has been written, to.the owner of tho villa- asking that the Rod Cross Committee's liability , might be made as reasonable aa poseible. Also while in Franco Colonel Rhodes, at the request of tho New £ea3and Government, went to the New Zealand Hospital for French refugees at - Etrombieres—an institution which has been ,of great ■ benefit to the refugees from the north oi- France. Colonel 'Hbodes had no time to visit the ' New Zealand Hospital in ' France, but he learned .from the D.M.S. that the camp . cookers supplied by the Red" Cross to :; tho ambulance division had been of tho ; .yery greatest comfort, as they had been'-the means of providing hot refreshments to! ih«? sick and wounded as they came down _ from the firing line. . The Red Croea Depot al -.Boulogne was well supplied, alsb the New'- Zealand base camp at Etaples, and at present there were no. further wants in, Fiance. . INTERNED IN SWITZERLAND. There are altogether fifteen members of -the N.Z.E.F. in Switzerland interned at Geneva, Interlaken, and Murren, Chateau d'CEux, and Vevey. Colonel Rhodes saw them all, and found that on the whole they were well satisfied .with their condition. Had it not been for the conclusion of hostilities and tho certain early repatriation of these men, Colonel Rhodes would have made a fuller report, especially with regard to the system of education established for tho benefit of J interned men by the Red Cross. APPOINTMENT OF A STO-COMMITTEE. j ' The New Zealand War Contingent -Asso- I ■ ciation had asked the- Red Cross Committee , to elect a sub-committee to work in con-' function with a eub-committee of ths Hospitality Committee in connexion with the i Christmas entertainments. It was -decided 1 1 that this committee should consist of Mrs I ' Wilson, J. H. B. Coates, Mr R. M. i Macdonald, Colonel Rhodes, and Mr F. i Waldegrave, while a, sub-oommittee consist- i ing of -Mr Macdonald, Colonel Rhodes; and , Mr Waldegrav© was appointed to draw up ' a schedule of the Red Cross Committee's * property and to deal with the assets on the dissolution of the committee. 1

A suggestion had been made about th« provision of a cinema for OaHanda. On the motion of Air Macdonald, seconded by Mr the matter was left in tho hands of the Executive Committee with power to act. It was decided to aak General Richardson if hospital convalescent 'patients would be granted leave from hospital on Christmas Day, as this leave would affect the arrangements made for entertainment on that day Regarding tho provision of ambulances the chairman of the Hospital Comforts Committee reported' that,' owing to the cessation of hostilities, there would now be no need for the ambulances for the hospital Slot tuberculous cases at . Torquay or for tho dental ambulance which it hud been decided'"to provide for France.