RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1921, Page 7

RED CROSS SOCIETY.

NEW PLYMOUTH SUB-CENTRE. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth sub-centre of the British Red Cross Society was held yesterday. In the absence of the president (Dr. Leatham), Mrs. E. A. Walker presided. There was a moderate attendance of members. The executive’s report stated: —The year has been a quiet one, and the only activities of this sub-centre have been since the receipt of a circular from Wellington in December last with a request to endeavor to increase the membership and to prepare for the May week collection. The sum of £33 Ils 6d -has been collected for peace-time activities, which amount will appear in next year’s accounts. Our account shows that 129 members have recently beeti enrolled for peace-time work. Executive officers recently met the committee of St. John’s Ambulance Society, when a resolution was carried, approving of local amalgamation. We have been striving for this for some years, and it only now remains for the present society of St. John’s Ambulance to. endorse the action of your committee. We cannot but feel that there are too many societies in New Plymouth doing practically the same work, which means a lot of overlapping. Referring to finance, the report stated: During the year the society has paid £l5 to the matron of the hospital, and this* has been spent by her for comforts for the sick and wounded soldiers at her discretion. The funeral expenses of a returned soldier who had no friends in New Plymouth were paid by the society. A special donation of £5, paid through us for the starving children of Europe by Messrs. Tweedie Bros., was remitted. We have in hand £2lO la 2d for sick and wounded soldiers, of which amount £l5O is placed in the New Plymouth savings bank. We have been asked on several occasions by the Government War Fund Department to remit our balance to Wellington, but, considering that it may yet be needed by some local returned soldier or soldiers, we are holding it, aftid we trust our action will be approved by you. The Wellington centre, of which we are a sub-centre, holds £34,268 in its general fund, besides which it has £1624 on its peace-time fund. This is creditable to Taranaki alike with other districts, considering a large portion has been subscribed by us. There appears to be ample scope for peace-time work, as the Red Cross embraces, among other things: (1) An organised fight against venereal disease; (2) the distribution of health literature; (3) child welfare; (4) special research and study of typhus and kindred diseases. It has instituted a nursery- scholarship, Red Cross, hospitals; it is world-wide, and is first and foremost in every good work. The report mentioned that Dr. Collins, C.M.G., the chairman of the New Zealand executive, was-to have given an address to the annual meeting, but he had been detained owing to the serious illness of a near relative. It was suggested that the future policy of the subcentre be altered and that 90 per cent of any money subscribed be for local activities, and the balance of ten per cent be sent to headquarters to cover general expenses.

The meeting decided that the present officers and executive be empowered to continue in the meantime, pending the decision as to the future policy of the society.

Donations of £5 from the peace-time fund were made to each of the following societies, whose work comes within the scope of the general Red Cross organisation, Plunket Society, Victoria League, Y.V\ .C.A. hostel. Ladies’ Club, Rotorua (for crippled children).