THE RED CROSS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3042, 31 March 1917, Page 10

THE RED CROSS

••' The very enterprising people wh'p are conducting what is known as the Red Cross art union might with .advantage to the cause they are seeking to assist have 1 emphasised even more than they have done what the Red Cross organisation's work means to our troops in the fighting lines. lb is true that mention has been made of the ambulances,, cars, wagons,, ; travelling soup■■• 'kitchens, etc.t which the Society has in use at • the front, and some indication has been given of the-noble work which •has been done in alleviating the lot of our.wounded soldiers,, and; in thousands of cases, in saving life as. well. But whatever has been said of the work of : the Red Cross Society gives but a poor idea of the service it has rendered and is-still' rendering to the brave men who are fighting our battles. The 'cost..ait which it-.carries out. its work is one of-the ••marvels;.of .the war,,- its ad : ministration."-haying been- : , brought toi;a'.-'Btag6'. pf perfection that has won the unstinted admiration even of so searching and merciless 'a critic as Loed Noethcliffe. Its funds probably-are more.-economical-ly administered than' those''of any organisation 'with which it can .be compared,, which is a matter of very great! importance, in ;thcse:days-when: ■ donors are becoming properly careful of the manner in which their contributions are likely to be handled. , However good the cause, it is .always liable. to N fail to produce, a liberal response from the public unless there'is some assurance tha,t the money contributed will be wisely handled and expended. Contributors to the Red Cross Society may rely on their money being turned to the best possible account, and wo aro glad to note that the organisers of the Red Cross art union, are following the admirable example set them by the Society in keeping the expenses connected with their effort down to a low figure. The prizes have all been generously donated by Taihape farmers, and tho task of disposing of the art union tickets, on the sale of which the success' ; of "the enterprise depends, is being carried out at a minimum of cost. The proposal to cable to England the money realised should be an incentivo to many people to lend : their assistance, for it will > mean" that'funds will be im- ■ mediately available ■ for extending •the work of the' Red Cross 'Society.;' amongst'our own troops' at a time 'when, such service will,. be of the,' : greatest' value. A special effort will be m.ado during.the.next iew,.days '■ 'to bring tho'art"union to a success- ; ful. conclusion, arid the cause for which-the money is ;to be devoted will no doubt tempt many to assist .-.' who do not altogether approve of ' the art union method of raising < funds. ' ' ':