WELLINGTON RED CROSS SHOP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 2

WELLINGTON RED CROSS SHOP

MEETING OF WORKERS. Workers and supporters of the Wellington Red Cross Shop attended a meeting which was held yesterday afternoon in tlio Concert Chamber for the purpose of discussing several matters altecting its future operations. Mrs, Luke presided, and there was a largo attendance of those interested in the matters under discussion.

In opening the meeting Mrs. I/tike referred to the fact that the first jear of the oxistenco of the Red Cross Shop had just come to a conclusion, and as the building in which it had been located had been scoured for other purposes they would, if they decided to continue with the shop, have to move to othor premises. Whether they -would continue tlio work or dovise some other plans for raising money for llerl Cross purposes was one of tlio points which they would have to settle that afternoon. Possibly they might havo to rescind one or two resolutions passed at a previous meeting. What was wanted was to get more people interested iu tlio work of the Red Cioss aud to realise their responsibilities in this direction and help. Suggestions in regard to the shop and its oontinuauce would bo welcomed.

Mrs. W. Nathan moved that the shop should be continued. Mrs. Adams seconded tho motion, and it was finally decided that such should he the case.

The next question to be dealt with was that of the new location of the shop. Mrs. Luko stated that Mrs. Nathan, on behalf of the Shop Committee, had made inquiries and had found that a shop could bo secured on the Quay, opposite the Public Trust Office (ill which the kitchen outfit iva3 now being exhibited), which Mr. Kirkcaldio had told her could be secured for £6 a week rental.

In reply to a question Mrs. Firth told the meeting that a rent of £3 a week was paid for tho premises they were vacating. From tlie remarks of some of the speakers it was evident that tlio rontal asked for the place under discussion was not meeting with a cordial reception.

Mrs. Firth proposed that it be ascertained what help would be received in continuing the shop. Was it to be open daily or twice a week as at the present time?

In the discussion that followed Mrs. Nathan proposed that the shop should be open not only on the two regular days (Tuesdays and Fridays), but on the other days as well. Mrs. Elder seconded the motion, and Mrs. Pearcc also supported it, pointing out that if the shop were open daily it would not be the strain upon people that it was under tho present system. This was carried.

Another point that occupied the attention of the meeting was whether there should bo a continuously-open tea-room in connection with the shop. A considerable amount of discussion j ensued, and it was pointed out that , there would be a good deal of initial expense incurred. Tile question of continuous tea wiw finally negatived by tlio meeting. _ Another matter that came under discussion was as to whether a, different plan should be followed out in regard to the matter of taking days at the shop, whether the people of different streets should not be banded together to take it on different days instead of the different societies and organisations as is practically the caso at present. Finally it waf decided that, as there were important points \>pon which representatives of several societies who were present were not piepared to speak oil behalf of their organisations, delegates should be appointed to consult with their organisations. and at a meeting to be held next month give _ the decisions that liad been arrived at iu regard to these matters. Mrs. Firth moved that another organising secretary 1 ! be seotired, either a. man or a woman, to cope with the work for the coming year, as she was afraid that she could not give all the time that would bo necessary for organising tlio work in connection with the shop. With the understanding that these matters would bp finally decided at a meeting to be liold next month, also one or two others that are of considerable moment to the women who have worked so hard to raise funds through the shop for our sick aud wounded soldiers, tlio meeting was brought to | a conclusion.