TO ASSIST THE RED GROSS WORK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 4

TO ASSIST THE RED GROSS WORK

_o A useful outlet for the energies of patriotic citizens is provided by the movement now afoot which aims at the building up in the Dominion, of a _ powerful organisation associated with the.British Bed Cross Society and the Order of St. John. Our readers no 'fioubt have noted that at a recent conference of delegates, in Christc.hurch under the chairmanship of His Excellency the Governor, the first step in this direction was successfully taken. Each military district in New Zealand is to have a complete separate organisation, and the purpose immediately in view is the building up of that organisation in the Wellington Military District. That district covers practically the whole of the North Island south of New Plymouth on the West Coast, and Gisborno on the East Coast, including the towns mentioned. It will bo seen, therefore, that tho district is an extensive one, and if it is to be worked thoroughly and to the best advantage it will require a large and a willing band of workers. Most people are familiar with the admirable work done by tho Red Cross Society in assisting those who have gone out to fight our battles. The main purpose is to raise funds and to forward contributions of clothing of various descriptions likely to prove of value to the men in the hospital's abroad, and in the convalescent homes, etc. It is essential that this work should be carried out systematically, in order to'secure,the best results, and the lied Cross Society's organisation affords an admirable means of ensuring this. Individual and ifidependent effort leads to all sorts of muddlement and waste. For instance: a given hospital may at any time be'_ almost buried under a tremendous influx of pyjamas furnished from a variety of different sources, while there is a- famine in sock,; and exactly the reverse condition of things may exist in another hospital. The Bed Oro'ss Society will work in conjunction with the British Bed Cross Society, which has its officials at the various centres where soldiers' hospitals are situated, and they will keep the headquarters in Wellington posted as to tho requirements in different diree tions, thus avoiding overlapping and waste. Headquarters here will make known the position to the different centrcs and sub-centres, and so the varying needs of the various institutions may be properly mei Already this system is in operation, and quite recently a- substantial quantity of articles of various sorU was sent to our forces in Mesopotamia. Generally speaking, however, the contributions from New Zealand will go mainly to New Zealand troops in Egypt or at other base hospitals. What is ndw wanted is a vigorous beginning 'with the tsinlt oi building up tho Wellington Military District organisation. To

this end, Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Sei'ton-Moorhouse, Officer in Charge of the Central Department, has summoned a meeting to be held at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall next Thursday evening. At this gathering, which it is hoped will bo largely attended by those willing to assist in the movement, a general discussion will take place, and a strong committee be appointed to organise the work of the district. All the country centres are invited to co-opcrate in this effort, and there is every, prospect of the organisation developing on powerful lines. It is a work in which all can assist, and which well warrants all the help that can be given it.