RED CROSS WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 65, 11 December 1918, Page 2

RED CROSS WORKERS

At the. last meeting, of the .'New Zealand Red Cross London Committee the commissioner (Colonel the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, M'.P.) said that, with a view to co-ordinating the' organisation of the New Zealand V.A.D.'s now in N.Z.E.F. hospitals with. the. Red Cross organisation in New Zealand, General Richardson had, some months ' ago, outlined a scheme which he submitted to the.Dot'cnco Department in New Zealand, and Hint scheme had since received the Minister's approval, states the London correspondent of * the Christchurch "Press." Its purport was to enrol, nil Now Zealand V.A.D.'s as New Zealand Red Cross workers—nursing section—and to post them to Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago detachments with the idea that on. demobilisation they could continue their service, if they desired to do so, on return to the Dominion and rejoin their parent.unit. General Richardson further sucgesfrd that all those who were working for the New Zealand Red Cross should also be enrolled here as Red Cross workers, their nnmes to he forwarded to New Zealand for enrolment. All the Rod Cross workers in hospitals should he under the. control of the raatron-in-chief. N.Z.E.'P., and all others should bn under the Red Cross Committee, all to be enrolled in the seclions in which, they were serving, e.g., nursing, motor transport, visitors, general service, clerical, etc. Their uniforms should bo dark blue serge, with grey facings, similar in design to fha|t nowworn by the New Zealand V.A.D.'s. Mr. I. W. Raymond, chairman of the War Contingent Association, recently informed General Richardson that the War Contingent proposed, to adopt a uniform and badge, therefore General Richardson suggested that a conference should be arranged, attended by the D.M.S., the matron-in-chief, Mr. Raymond, and Colonel Rhodes (as Red Cross Commissioner). Whon the conference met General Richardson outlined tile proposals asabove stated, and they wero agreed to, Mr. Raymond and Colonel Rhodes having undertaken to put them before their respective committees. H was further decided, on the suggestion of General Richardson, that the New Zealand War. Contingent workers should ndont a. similar uniform to that of the Red Cross organisation, but with n different badge. The length of service in one organisation should count for seniority in the other if a member was transferred. The roll of nil R?d Cross workers should bo kepi: bv the Red Cross Commissioner, who would be responsible for forwarding ;\II n:\mes for enrolment to New Zea'ind, while the roll of the War Contingent As••■"cialion workers should be kept by Miv Rnynwwl.