RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1918, Page 2

RED CROSS SOCIETY.

NEW PLYMOUTH BRANCH. Tlib annual meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the British Red L'ross Society was held in the Soldiers' Club room on Monday night. Dr. 11. B. Leatham, president, occupied Ike chair, and there were present about fifty ladies and a d,o&en gentlemen. Crooke and E. A. Walker also occupied seats at the table. Dr. Leatham expressed his gratification at the large attendance, and read apologies from the Revs. \V. A. Sinclair, F. G. Harvie, Rawles, Mesdames G. Har,via, B, H. Chaney, and Nurses Stanford ana Goldwater. Th e chairman congratulated members on the excellent results that had been achieved during the past year. He referred specially to the work done at the Red Cross Mart and to the valuable assistance rendered by friends in the country in connection with the Mart each Saturday. He also referred to the excellent results of ''Our Day Appeal," when a very large amoir't was raised, including a large number small donations, showing tile area), interest taken throughout the district in the work of Society. He showed the work that the Red Cross Society was doing, and how essential it was that increased effort should be made, not only by present workers tout by others, to swell the exchequer, and so enable the Society to increase its usefulness among the sick and wounded soldiers, who tad done so much for us. He concluded by expressing thanks, on behalf of the committee, to all who had assisted during the year.

REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET. The annual report detailed the work of the year. Cases of garments had been despatched fortnightly to the depot at Wellington, work being carried on every afternoon and on two evenings a week. 2931 garments had been made and 7788 dressings, etc Hurworth had supplied 33G garments, the Baptist Ladies' Guild 305, both subscribing monthly to the Society's funds, as did the St. Andrew's Guild. Thanks were tendered to these Guilds, the Lepperton Ladies and Girl Knitters, and all others who had helped. Reference was made to the raising of £IO2O by the "Our Day" appeal and to the £9OO netted by the High School Old Girls' baby competition, half of the latter being given to the Red Cross; also to the £63 Ss obtained for the Roumanian Red Cross work. £3151 had been sent to headquarters, providing for £5 per month to Feathorston Military Hospital and £5 for medical comforts on outgoing troopships. Drives had been provided for isolated soldiers and a room furnished at the hospital for men to rest, read, and write letters. An appeal was made for more monthly subscribers, the sums given varying from Is to £5. £IOO was being forwarded to Wellington for returned invalided soldiers. £IOO had been donated to the Scottish Women's Hospital work, as well as the mart takings for one Sa turd av.

During the year £156(1 had been raised by means of a, Saturday mart, which is to be continued under the name of the Red Cross 'Mart, and a continuance of help is asked for from outside districts and societies. Arrangements have been made to secure that no section of members gets too much responsibility.

Reference was made to the conference of various branches in Wellington and to the benefit derived therefrom. Thanks iwere expressed for the afternoon teas provided, for the use of the rooms in Queen street (granted by Mr. Stanley Shaw), to the Borough Council and Gas Co.. for lighting and rates, to the press, to Mrs Milliman and Miss Mary-Clarke and to a number of others for services rendered, including the secretary (Mr. A. B. Gibson) and to Mr. Medley (auditor). The balance sheet showed receipts totalled £31)60 14s Id, Including £240 12s 7d brought forward from the previous, year. The disbursements totalled £3608 13s 6d, including £2717 17s 6d remitted to Wellington, £544 9s 4d for purchase of material, £56 4s lOd for sundry pureTiases, £B3 8s for Roumanian ,Day collection, £34 18 for furnishing rooms at hospital, and £l9 7s fid for hire of cars for invalided soldiers, the balance in hand being £352 0s 7d. Members considered the report and balance sheet very satisfactory. Mr. W C. Weston, in moving its adoption, congratulated the society, particularly Mesdames Crooks and Walker and the secretary (Mr. A. B. Gibson), on the results. A considerable sum of money had been saved entailing much work, which had been ungrudgingly given.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mrs Crooke stated that previously they had worked with 16 members, but as the now had. complete charge of the mart in addition to its other activities, the committee should be enlarged to 20 and she accordingly moved in that direction. Mr. Cutfleld seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr A. B. Gibson stated he had felt it advisable to have a committee of men associated with the work, and he understood the ladies were agreeable to this. From present indications there was every probability that they would, be called on for funds at a moment's notice for England or France, and it would be of advantage to have consulting committee of men and he moved that a consulting committee of eight be appointed.

This was seconder! li\- Mrs Walker. The chairman considered this an excellent proposal. Such a committee would be useful in initiating extra schemes for raising money if necessary. The motion was carried. Officers were elected as follows: President, DrH.B. Leatham (re-elected); Vice President, Mesdames A. Crooke and A. E. Walker (re-elected); Committee: For the twenty vacancies on the committee there were 23 nominations, and the tion resulted: Mesdames Morrison, Renaud, Addenbrooke, Penn, Eockel, Alexander, Newman, Courtney, Martin, B. Chaney, Misses 0. Mackay, Crooke, Goldwater, Leatham, A. Wilson (re-elected), Mesdames Gilbert, Messenger, Dodgshun, Gibson and Miss Eawson. Treasurer, Mr. W. Newman was elected in place of' Mr. K. Bell, resigned; secretary, Mr. A. B. Gibson (re-elected); Men's Consulting Committee, Messrs W. Oldham, B. W. D. Robertson, A. B. ( Johnstone and W. C. Weston. . GENERAL. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. K. Bell for his services as treasurer during the past two years. "■■''•* of ilmn'ss were accorded tlio a" ■ Mr. J. S. S. Medley), to Miss )»-/ f- <•!• typing, and to the chairman.