THE RED CROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1932, Page 7

THE RED CROSS

{RELIEF OF DISTRESS. MEASURES BY SOCIETY. WELLINGTON, March 2. The'' latest figures ''' frblh ‘ the Headt 1 quarters of the New Zealand Red Cross Society show that in Wellington alone during the past month (February) 60,000 garments have been distributed and just over a thousand pairs of boots and shoes. At the moment the Red Cross Society has nurses working in conjunction (with well organised committees throughout the Dominion, their work 'being to investigate and report immediately all bona fide cases of distress; and in all. genuine cases relief in the form of f00d,., clothing, footwear, medical supplies (and any other special requirements incidental to treatment) is afforded without delay. Total figures for New Zealand during the past twelve months are enormous—even excluding the special relief required by the Hawkes Bay Earthquake. On this latter count alone, a total of 20,000 persons and an expenditure of £18,500 has already been reached. Being non-sectarian and undenominational the Red Cross Sosiety finds its organisation and resources much in demand. Thus the thousands of calls on tile Red Cross Branches made ever} week afford a close index of the present social and economic position. So great in fact has been the demand in recent months 'that heroic measures have been needed, both to cope with \he work and to supply the .necessary relief. Captain M. *S. Galloway, Secretary-General ioi the New Zealand Red Cross, reports that but for the growing number oi people who prefer to subscribe to the Red Cross rather than give indiscriminately, the Organisation would find it necessary to curtail its activities.