RED CROSS SOCIETY

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 12 May 1917, Page 4

RED CROSS SOCIETY

TAfHAFB BRANCH.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the TaihapeBranch of the Red Cor.s Society w£»L held in the Town Hall supper-nom last night. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith) presided. There was only a mocierute attendance, consisting mostly of lid:es. The minutes of the Jast ninual meeting and a special meeting were read and confirmed.

The annual report and balancesheet (which appeared in yesterday's paper) were read by the chairman. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr. Arrowsmith said he was sorry to say the attendance that night was not as large as the importance of the cause warranted. This, unfortunately, had been his experience at several other meetings at which he had presided. However, Taihape must be judged more by the results achieved than by the attendances at meetings. Though the attendance was distinctly disappointing, the members were to be congratulated on the results of their labours. There was no cause in the whole coun-

try more deserving of support than the Red Cross Society. We were at present engaged in a battle which may be the turning point in the war. We are told of the tremendous losses suffered by the enemy, and that ours are camparatively light; nevertheless our losses must be heavy. It would doubtless still be fresh in the minds of his hearers the effect of the receipt of "the lists of casualties after the battle of the Somme. The New Zealand Brigade evidently were now held in reserve, but their casualties were bound to come. They must bear in mind that they could not do too much in endeavouring to save thelives of our own men and the lives of other men in the British forces. The Red Cross efforts were to prevent a casualty becoming a fatality. He could not conceive that anyone in New Zealand would begrudge any sum to aid tho .Red . Cross Society in carrying out the noble work they had set themselves to do. It had ijeen mentioned in the report that there were certain members of the Society; in with their contributions. He was sureit was not through heartlessness, noran intention to ; shirk doing their duty, but was simply thoughtlessness. -He'' trusted that after : this meeting, and'in the course of" a week ; br two, they would be defaulting 1 subscribers 'no longer. It was not his intention to mention the names of any who had worked for the benefit of the Red Cross funds. There were some whofrom the nature of their work were more in the public eye; the

there were others who had done ',\\ best in a quiet and unobtrusive manner, and he was of opinion it would, be invidious to individualise where all had worked so hard, and who felt that the fact of having done what they could was all the reward and all thepublicity that was warranted. The report and balance-sheet was eminently satisfactory, and he hoped they would be able to do a great deal more. He apologised on behalf of Miss Donnelly and Mr. Studholme for not being presort.

The report was unanimously adopted.

In reply to a question from Dr. McDiarmid, Mr. Emerson (treasurer) said the money was now sent to the Red Cross Commissioner in London,. entirely for the use of tie New Zealand troops. The election of officers was then proceeded with, Mrs. Studholme being unanimously elected President. Vice-presidents, Mrs. Emerson, Messrs A. L. Arrowsmith and Studholme; treasurer, Mr. Emerson; secretary, Rev. W. F. Stent; auditor, Mr. A. M. Ryan; committee, Mesdames Ongley,. G. Bray, T. Bason, Blackie, Dinnison,. Eaton: Misses Gilbert, Smith, J. Smith, Dr. Mac Diarmid, Messrs Thurston and Dinnison. The Rev. W. F. Stent outlined . the proposed method of running the Red Cross Shop in the future. It was suggested that the country people should have conntrol of the shop for ten days and the Taihape residents for ten days. He had written to various country districts about the arrangements, but so far had had no repliesHe thought the scheme would be inaugurated w-hen the train services became normal, so as to enable the country people to get home by the-

6 p.m. train. Mrs Studholme said the Ruamii people were anxious to do their share, but there were difficulties owing to the state of the roafe At present it was almost impossffiP to get themselves or their goods' out or get them-

selves home again. T-he monthly meeting was fixed for the last Monday in the month, at the Red Cross Shop.

This was all the business, and a hearty vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.