MANUREWA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 322, 30 October 1917, Page 3

MANUREWA

RED CROSS GATHERING Continued interest in the Victoria League and the Red Cross work was again manifested at the Public Hall on Saturday afternoon last, when the Misses Perry, Thompson and Coxhead were responsible for the afternoon function. Mr C. F. Bickford, the Honorary Financial Organiser of the Red Cross Society, was the speaker for the afternoon and an audience of about 150, mostly ladies, listened with rapt attention to him as he traced the history of the Red Cross movement from 1859 to" the present day. He pointed out that the Red Cross Prisoners and Nursing Bureau was a wonderful enquiry organisation. Dealing with present day operations he said the Society early in 1917 was expending £B,OOO per day and this expenditure had now increased to £9,000. Referring to the Auckland Military Distiict the following sums had been raised since the war, viz: £396,000 for patriotic purposes, £126,000 for Belgian relief fund, £90,000 for the Navy League, and £50,000 for Y.M.C.A. comforts This represented a grand total of £662,000 from a population of 159,000 people and represented £4 5s 8d per head of population. In Great Britain at the end of the financial year the income from Red Cross work was £3,064,000, the largest item of expenditure being maintainence of hospital ships and trains The cost of management was a shade over £85,000— only 7d of every sovereign contributed. As showing the increase of interest in the Red Oross work in the Auckland district Mr Bickford said that £BOOO had been subscribed to the end of January last, but since then and up to October 12th £21,000 had been contributed, the bulk of this money being subscribed by the workers of Auckland and suburbs. Dealing with the ladies' work from October 14th, 1916, to August 30th. 1917, he said the ladies had contributed £IO,OOO value in materials, such as sox, pyjamas, singlets and bandages so that in material and cash the Auckland Military District had only reached £31,000, or only 4s per head of population as compared with £4 5s 9d per head for patriotic purposes. Hearty applause showed that the speaker had made a deep impression on his audience. All sums are not yet in but over £l2 was acknowledged during the afternoon. The Otahuhu Physical Culture Class (the Misses B. Morrin, D. Nixon, C. Jones, E Austin, M. Austin, R. Pierce, E. Thwaites, O, Thwaites) gave an exhibition and Miss M. Austin contributed a skipping solo. The Papatoetoe Junior Physical Culture Class (the Misses Millie Swaffield, Cassie Waters, Vivien Jones, Gwen Leonard, Dorothy Barton, Dorrie Waters, taarjorie Richardson and Phyllis Weston) gave an exhibition in costume of an Irish Jig. Miss May Crondace rendered a characteristic song, " I'm on my way to good old Dublin Bay " and Mr T. J. Corin recited Lloyd George's appeal. Mrs Alex Muir read a communication from Mrs Edmonds, of Auckland, thanking Manurewa for its efforts on the one day appeal and Mrs Muir added that Mrs Palmer had been instrumental in securing a sewing machine presented to the ladies of Manurewa by the Farmers' Union.

The following young ladies assisted in dispensing afternoon tea to those present, viz. : Misses Finlay (2), Tidd, Lovell, Keyes, Rule, Smith, Jukes, Greaves, Thompson, Coxhead (2) and Lupton. Mrs J. R. Bailey, who presided, thanked one and all and concluded by an appeal for material and cash, emphasising the fact that they could not have too much of either to succour the sick and wounded. A very enthusiastic gathering was brought to a close by all singing the National Anthem. The Manurewa School Committee held their usual meeting on Saturday evening last when there were present Mrs Palmer (in the chaii), Messrs F. E White, T. W. Bell, PeiryacdE. S. Pegler. The ever recirring question of increased accommodation was freely discussed. Tli" school has accommodation for l. r )0 yet the roll number is 215 with an average attendance of 191. During September, when the Inspector visited the school, there were 201 pupils present. Every available poich r.nd passage are utilised and the conditions are anything but satisfactory An epidemic of so:e throats Irs passed through the school and uh-n children are subject to such c m litions the wonder is that something more serious has not occurred. Mention was made of the periods of indisposition of some of the pupil teachers. The committee considered this was a result of the overcrowding After a deal of discussion it was decided to again call the Board's attention to the matter. If the Committee cannot, move the Board it was thought it is time the public, in the interest of their children, should take the mutter in hand as a visit to the school would convince any parent that a radical alteration was necessary in the matter of accommodation.