WELLINGTON RED CROSS MATTERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 42, 13 November 1919, Page 2

WELLINGTON RED CROSS MATTERS

MEETING' OF COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of tile Wellington Red Cross Committee was held in the Mercer Street Depot yesterday afternoon, Mr. T. Young being in the chair. There were also present Mesdumes J. I', iii'kc, Moorhouse, 31. Myers, Blnndell, Adams, Miss Sybil Nnthnn (lion, secreMr. Holmes; and Mr. AVright. Mr. Yoiinj? moved that Mr. J. Kinnelierg be elected to fill a vacancy on the committee. This motion wjis carried, .\ letter was received from Miss Stott, matron of the Wellington Hospital, asking for a croquet set. It was decided to grant the application.for the benefit of the military patients in the hospital. llr. Young read a circular letter from j the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. J. | B- Tline). in which he stated that a number of societies hail found Uiat havin" fulfilled their approved objects there was no further Scope for their activities and that the funds -were no longer v< quired in the public interest for the purpose for -which they, were established. The Minister expressed himself as beiiiß strongly of the opinion that though such fund-i .'might- bp "directed -to.be. paid to ihe National .Wnr..Funds Council, every consideration should bo given to commit, tees'controlling..funds to malic the best use of such moneys locally for the benefit of soldiers anrl their dependant , ?. Accordingly lio invited .suggestions from thpso societies as, to the disnosalof the balance now in 'their hands. In regard to the lnrije number of returned men who were suffering from shell shock, nervous ailments, and severe wounds, the Minister considered, it 'necessary to recommend to the consideration of executive, committees of war funds the necessity of looking ahead to provide for those nece* 1 nitons eases which would, be met. with inevitably in H'e future, especially among the above-mentioned class of men. In discussing the circular, Mr. loans said that £12.000 had been expended upon the soldiers in Ihe hospitals during the past six months, and it was , difficult jto form any idea as to what amount thev would 'have in hand by the time the" hospitals were evacuated of all soldiers. A great deal of the abova-mention-I ed money had been expended upon voca--1 tional work for the soldiers. The future of the societv would depend very largely upon what the parent organisation at Homo decided to do: whether it was going to combine with the Order of bt, John and extend the scope of its activities or not. He would mow-'"!.hut the matter be left to be dealt with by the New Zealand Council as, in the opinion of this commitl-ee, nolhins definite can 1)0 laid before the Minister until it is ascertained what funds will remain after the military hospitals and convalescent homes have been evacuated by , the soldiers." Tho motion was carried 4.11 application was received ironi the secretary of the 'W'anganui and Waitotiira Patriotic Association, asking lor a grant ol Jilot) for the Soldiers . Convalescent Home, at Uouville. It was decided to leave the. chairman and secretary ot the Wellington committee to deal with tlie matter. • , 'X'ho balance-sheet of the London branch of the -Now Zealand lied Cross Society, mrwarded by -Mr. Waldegruve, showed a sum in hand at the mid of August, ISII9, of X&WS ss. / ' A letter Hated October 15 from SurgeonGeiiernl M'Uavl'.i, Director of. Medical Services, stated that thurs were then in tuci military hospiials and convaletwnt homed iu the Dominion 11)15 soldiers. Siuw that dute, it was pointed out at the meeting, that number had baen considerably-added to, and in Trentham alone- there , were now il7-men iu the hospital. A tetter from the matron of the Pukeroa Sanatorium, Wnipiikiirau, was read expressing appreciation uf tlio gramaphone records whidi had been sent for the benciit ol the soldier-patients. The meeting decided that a. grant be made uf J3 a month to-the, matron to supply comforts for the men in the sanatorium. Correspondence was read from Mr. W. H. Montgomery, Direutw of Vocational 'J'raining, respecting the purchase of motor-cars. by the lied Cross Society as equipment for the Motor Engineering Instructional Class, also from ill , . G. 11. Fleming, lion, secretary tf the Auckland Keel Cross Society, regarding the supply of tirtain furnishings lor mispitals and convalescent homes and rlothing lor patients. k was decided that these, matters should lie dealt with by a Mib-uoinmittee. The coniinittee decided to grant the sum of c£2su, the balance of the amount needed to making a bowling green and lawn at the Pukpj-oa Sanatorium, Wnipukuraii. Christmas festivities for the men in tlio hospitals occupied the attention of the committee for a while, and finally it was decided that Mrs. Luke, Mrs. Moorhouse, Mrs. Myers, and Mi's. Blundell form a sub-committee to arrange for the. supply of Christmas comforts for the men in Tientham Hospital, mid also to assist in the mutter ekewhere if their help were needed.