THE RED CROSS IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2634, 3 December 1915, Page 3

THE RED CROSS IN NEW ZEALAND

"WORK FOR' MEN AND WOMEN. It is possible that the importance of tlio action taken by tlio Hospital Military Guild when, at a meeting which was hold last week, it formed itself into a branch of, and became affiliated with, tlie British Red Cross Association, is not altogether realised. For' one thing, it was felt that by doing so the work of the guild would be greatly. strengthened and facilitated, as R«1 Cross and St. John Ambulance goods are given precedence over all others sent out by other societies, and hospital goods bearing the Red Cross signatUTes. are supposed to, reach their destination without tail. As the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke), points out, the conference that is to be held next Tuesday at which representatives from all organisations and,- societies working for the soldiers are invited to be present to disctiss the proposals to join the Red Cross Society, is for this reason an important one, and a comprehensive scheme will be worked out for preventing all overlapping, and also for hastening and facilitating the dispatch of goods to the hospitals at the front.

It is not necessary to say at this stage of the war that Red Cross work stands above all other in its insistent call to our gratitude arid our practical sympathy for the'men who are fighting our battles and who are suffering >such unspeakable horrors for the sake of the people' at homo. Something is gleaned of that from the many books that have been written about the war, but only something, and if every woman worked to her utmost capacity she would not be dcinjj too much or even enough. The war is even yet not realised in New Zealand, even though, we see a little of its ravages every now and again in the streets. No Red Cross Society or no society doing Red Cross work should ever lack for funds, and yet they do. In any case, it is plainly to be seen that the work of the Red Cross makes a special appeal to_ men as well as to women. Possibly this aspect of the matter will bo put before the audience at the lecture which is to be given by Surgeon-General Henderson, in the Concert Chamber, on Monday night, upon the "Aims and Objects of the British Red Cross/' Such a lecture at, this time should be of the greatest interest to everyone, especially from 0110 who has been so closely in touch with the work as the lecturer.

Oil Saturday, December 11, by tlie kind permission of Lieutenant-Colonel Potter, the Commandant, the soldiers who are in camp at Trentham arc (living a concert in the Town Hall, the Patriotic Society being responsible for tlie arrangement and general management. The proceeds of the concert are being handed over to the .St. Jolm Brigade and Red Cross Society. Tho fact that the men in camp are supplying the whole of the items on the programme, and that those same men will probably, in a, few months, be putting up as goad a figlit for their King, their country, and tlie prestige of the British race as their brothers of New Zealand have already so gloriously done, should be sufficient to fill the Town Hall to overflowing. As a matter of fact, there is quite a lot of really good talent anioncr the men who are now in training, and the concert will be well worth attending from an artistic point of view. The ladies of tlio St. Jolm Ambulance Brigade will be in the streets oil the day of tho concert, selling flowers and tickets for the concert) and it will he ail excellent bargain to get a ticket and a buttonhole for one or two shillings.

The attendance at the Soldiers' Room in Sydney Street continues to very large, and shows how much the soldiers appreciate its attractions an? comforts. About four hundred were present at tea-time last eveninc, Sirs. A. 51. Johnson and Mrs. Mitford being the hostesses. Music, songs, aud choruses entertained those who were musicallv inclined, Mrs. Johnson and Miss Pricp playing for them; and reading, writing, billiards, etc.. offered attractions to others.