RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 May 1919, Page 4

RED CROSS SOCIETY.

The animal meeting of the Tailiape Branch of the Red Cross Society was held last night, where there was an attendance of seven persons, including the chairman and secretary, which doc* not redound to the credit of the town, Mr Arrowsmith occupied the chair.

The report and balance sheet, which were published in our columns' oa Saturday, were read and adopted'. A letter was read from Mrs J. F. Siudholme. apologising for the absence of Mr Studholme and herself on account of ill-health. She said that General Richardson had advised the count) v. branches of the Society not to »P wound up, as the soldiers would require to be looked after for some time yet. She advised the Society to work as a sleeping concern, and advised that visiting committees be formed to visit wounded and sick soldiers in hospitals. The advantage of instruction in horn.'

nursing was also pointed out. Rev. W. F. Stent suggested the branch should do the visiting, and so relieve the local Patriotic Societv.

Mr Emerson endorsed this view, but did not think it- necessary to have a. committee \to do 'that :work, which would probably duplicate its efforts. Some discussion took place on the question of handing over the money hand, to be known as the "Local Sold-* iers' Relief Fund.' ;

Mr Arrowsmith said the amount paid out for soldiers in hospital at present by the Patriotic Society did not average more than £3 per month. Mr Emerson considered it would, per. haps be wise to keep a certain amount of money in hand in order to keep the Society together. Mr Arrowsmith thought it would be better to keep heir funds intact, and this view found favour with those present.

After some conversational discussion, it was decided not to wind up

the Society. Rev. Stent explained that at last meeting it was decided to call a mectsng to wind up the Society, but M:s Studholme's letter received that night had put a different complexion on tho matter.

The election of officers was then proceeded with. President, Mrs Studtoime (re-elected): vice-presidents, Mrs Emerson, Messrs Stent, Studholme, and Arrowsmith; committee, Mesdamcs Fanr.in, Sinclair, Pitt, WrigVioi:, Matthews, Misses Smith, and J. Smith, Dr. Sinclair. Messrs Fannin and Loughnan; secretary, and treasurer, Mr Ri A. Davies.

It was decided that the secretary write to the Patriotic Sociey, stating the Red Cross has funds in

hand which it proposes to use for the purchase of comfcrts for sick and wounded and is prepared, when requested by the Society, to make grants for that purpose.

With regard to the question of home nursing, advocated by .Mrs Studholme. it was stated that the St. John's ambulance had established a branch in- Taihape, and it was. desirable for the Red Cross to support it to the utmost of its power, as it had been allied, at least nominally, to that institution for some years.

This being all the business, a vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close.