RED CROSS ACTIVITIES.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 7, 10 July 1930, Page 11

RED CROSS ACTIVITIES.

TJie monthly meeting of the Lower ! Hutt Branch of the above was held on I Monday afternoon, June 30th at the I l'esidenee of Lady Egberts "Tiri ;'Moana" Lowet Hutt. Lady Roberts (presided, and there were present the Secretary, Mis P. E. Joyce, Meedamea Cartmell, Foote, Mas&ey, We/fob and Coon, and Captain Galloway M.C

Correspondence and a comprehensive report on the work was read by Mrs. Joyce, which showed that during the month of .June 82' persons applied for help in the form of clothes, beds, food, <etc. and the following articles ■were distributed:- -850 garments, four layettes, each consisting of 20 garments, 40 coats and overcoats', 11 suits of dlotihes, 69 parrs of boots and shoes, 8 cots, 5 beds, 3 prams, 10 quilts and 'bed-covers, 4 new blankets, (beside 6 bed-covers, 4 new blankets, (besides 6 needy ease), 2 sheets, numerous collars and ties and small sums of money for bus fare and darning wool. All applicants »had families of from two to eight dependent children, and we are very grateful to the residents of Lower Hutt who are now recognising the usefulness of some organised depot, and the effort made to meet the really urgent distress' which prevails, not always through unemployment, but sickness too, many mien who saw service in France are apt to crock up in wet and cold weather, and a day lost can never toe made, up by people living just on the ibread line,tie chance to get a few clothes so .badly needed is a reaj Godsend. Captain Galloway spoke interestingly on the work of the Bed Cross, which was recognised by 54 countries as the

organised channel through which relief was administered. Truly he said, "The linking up of the whole of the worlid by the chain of Junior Red Cross Circles, - with the consequent interchange of ideas and , correspondence, was the most true conception of a League of Nations, and was 'doing more to lead to peace than any other movement known." An instance of the world-wide recognition of the worth of the Red Cross Society was the fact that by Act of Congress in America, all relief is delegated to tbe Bed Cross. At the time of tihe Louisville tornado, news of the disaster was wirelessed to of it's imminence was wirelessed to x

Headquarters, aiid an hour before the disaster overwhelmed Louisville, the Red Cross machinery was set up and all in readiness for t-he extraordinary releif measures needed. The sick were cared for, dead were buried, and the homeless When the sum of £4,000,000 was raised, the Bed Cross had been instrumental in raising three, and as the cost of administration amounts only to three pence in the pound, the returned, soldier receives 10/7 of every pound raised for his bene-. fit. In case those present did not' know, Captain Galloway explained that no monies raised for war purposes were used in any of ike peacetime activities, all was kept for its original purpose, the benefit of service men, now of course, ex-service men. During t»he earthquake period when greater, though less spectacular heroism was called for in the struggling mothers of homeless families, £50 was sent immediately from Peace-time funds, and for. tbe Mayors' Fund the women workers of tie Bed Cross collected £1000, though, at one period their funds were as low as 1/9! Another instance of the usefulness of the Bed Cross may be found in the fact that at the infantile paralysis outbreak, 350 trained women were, ready to help, and tihe services of 6ft were availed of until no longer needed. Since the initiation of t»he Unemployment Committee a year ago, 500 eases have been helped, the class of peoplte calling for this hip being physically unfit through age, internal troubles, poor physique eit-her through waT service or other cause, every case calling for the utmost sympathy and determination to helip. Some of these people have -been given light work suitable to their capabilities.

Among the blind people of Wellington imici work has been done. 200 are registered^ their homes visited when possible, pensions obtained for tihem, clothing and wireless provided. £300 was raised and given to Ewait Hospital for wireless, and a sum to Victoria Hospital. Upper Hutt help materially every year by holding a" garden fete, and the Junior Red Ctqss branches in the schools were accomplishing a great work, and at the same time helping themselves by their greater knowledge of geography obtaind by the exchange of lettrs etc.

Oaptain GuUoway thanked Lady Boberts for the use of 3ier house and hospitality, remarking that it was appropriate tihat the first talk ..on Bed Cross work in this district should be at her home, as the Roberts family—both Sir Alexander and bis father in Dunedin—had been ardent workers and consistent supporters of Bed Cross work in New

Zealand always. Lady Roberts in reply^ thanked Captain Galloway for tine interesting information given, much, of which, was unknown to the majority of those present.

A visit was paid to the Hutt depot by Captain Gallo.way and Mts. Joyce, and improvements were agreed upon whiok would make for more comfortable conditions for committee and applicants.

The following gifts ane reported, with: many thanks:—Mesdames Parker, Pen.roso Street, Thompson, Hinau Street, Lee, Whites Line, Dawson Pharaaya Street, Copping Waiwhetu^ Thomas, Whites Line Store, Kirkland. Messrs

W. Dyer ; Epuni $$reetj Payk-er, Frieada per Kirkland and Co., Miss' Williams* Mts. Dudding Laings Boad. Tie Misses Perry, Pretoria Street, donation of £2 fo,r the" purchase of material. Several anonymous donors of clothes and shoes.