RED CROSS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 146, 23 June 1933, Page 16

RED CROSS

RETURNED SOLDIERS

RELIEF OF DISTRESS

' The first annual meeting of the New Zealand Council of the Red Cross Society, Inc., was held this week at the Red Cross Rooms, Dixon Street. Those pitsent- were Lady Wigram (CliristchurchJ, Mr. C. J. Konaldson (president of Canterbury Centre), Mr. 1. J. Bridger (Mayor of Eltham), president of Sontli Taranaki Centre, Mot-dames A. J. King (Hawera), Keakes (Eltham), Patrick (vice-president New Plymouth Centre), Miss King, 0.8. E. (Xapier), Mr. Kunciman (Napier), Mr. H. Tait (Xapier), Mrs. Cony (president, Blenheim Centre), .Miss"Amy Kane (delegate from Women's Institutes), Mr. N. A. Giant (Wellington Centre), Mr. Harold Large (Napier"), Major J. Abel, V.D. (chairman of the Dominion Executive), and Mr. J. T. Spears (hon. treasurer). OFFICERS ELECTED. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the following officers were elected: —Chairman of the Dominion executive, Major J. Abel; hon. treasurer,' Mr. J. T. Spears; hon. solicitors, Messrs. Young, White, and Courtney; and hou. auditors, Messrs. Watkins, Hull, Wheeler, and Johnston. The election of all other officers comes under the Dominion executive. Dr. Colquhoun, who has been the representative of the New Zealand Red Cross Society on the Board of Governors of the League of Red Cross Societies, which meets in Paris, since his return to New Zealand has not been in the best of health, and has been compelled to resign. His resignation was accepted .with regret, and a vote of. thanks was passed for his able representation abroad. A suggestion was adopted .to approach Dr. Coiquhoun and the High -Commissioner in London- regarding the nomination of a suitable person to represent New Zealand on the permanent Board of the League of Red Cross Societies. The delegates from Hawke's Bay thanked the executive for their action in forwarding £25.t0 the Napier Red Cross for relief of sufferers through the Meeanee floods. JUNIOR RED CROSS. Accord ins; to . the constitution of the newly formed National Red Cross Society, the Junior Red Cross (which has been really run and controlled by the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society) now comes under the control of the New Zealand Council. The following resolution was passed:—"That the Dominion Council assume control of the Junior Ked Cross activities as from August 1,- 3933, and the matter of reorganisation be referred to the Dominion executive." This does not in effect mean necessarily any change in policy, but the future organisation of the Junior . Red Cross will now definitely become a national matter. EMERGENCY COMMITTEE. Previous to the annual meeting, a meeting was held of the joint committee, consisting of four representatives of the New Zealand Red Cross Society—Lady Wigram and Mr. C. J. Ronaldson (Christchurch), Mr. I. J. Bridger (Eltham), and Major J. Abel (chairman of the Dominion executive) and four representatives of the Order of St. John (the chairmen of the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin branches), who were represented yesterday by Colonel J. J. Esson, Mr. J. W. Jack, Dr. Elliott (chairman of the Wellington".branch), and Mr. C. S. Falconer, hon. secretary. The functions of this committee are to administer certain funds, the income from which is principally to be used in the alleviation of distress among returned soldiers and their dependents. Applications for assistance from this fund were received from various centres of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, and also from the headquarters of the Now Zealand Returned Soldins' Association. The following resolution was carried: — "That £500 be immediately allocated to be distributed, at the" discretion of • the emergency committee to be set up, among the Red Cross Societies and Order of St. John for the definite purpose of providing . necessary relipf for returned soldiers and dependents." An emergency committee was then set up consisting of Colonel Esson and Major J. Abel, with full power to net.