THE RED CROSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1940, Page 5

THE RED CROSS

BRANCHES & LADY GALWAY GUILD Y DECISION TO CO-OPERATE. MEETING IN MASTERTON LAST EVENING. Mrs G. G. Tolhurst presided over a good attendance at a committee meeting of the Masterton Sub-centre of the Red Cross Society held in the Municipal buildings last night. Several apologies for absence were received. The New Zealand Council advised that a meeting would be held in Masterton on July 11 to form a Wairarapa centre.

“It was very unfortunate that the Guild started at all,” stated Mrs Tolhurst in the course of a protracted discussion, which arose out of a direction received from the Dominion president of the Red Cross Society that the branches co-operate to the fullest extent with the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild.

It was considered by some members that as the Red Cross had been functioning since the outbreak of war, it should retain its identity in the matter of refugee work. A motion to that effect was moved and seconded, but was subsequently withdrawn.

Mr Norman Lee moved that the Masterton Sub-centre carry on with its work, and send the results through the Lady Galway Guild. “Even if the Lady Galway Guild did come in nine months too late, it does not matter now,” Mr Lee observed. "We are getting so many organisations now that it gives ordinary intelligent people a headache,” stated Mr J. P. Farrell. "Is there a guarantee that there will not be an organisation to take charge of the Guild?” Miss M. F. Barnett, Matron of the Masterton Hospital, considered that the local workers were big and broadminded enough to carry on without hesitation.

Mr Lee’s motion that the sub-centre should co-operate with the Guild for "the duration” was seconded by Mrs H. G. Alexander and carried on a show of hands by an ovewhelming majority. Various group reports were received, showing that excellent progress was being made in the work undertaken. Miss P. Gill outlined the work being carried out by the Junior Red Cross in the schools, stating that there were now over 500 members. Daisy Fenemore. of the Kopuraunga School, reported on the work being done by the pupils. Further arrangements were made for the Paddy's Market to be held in the Town Hall on August 2. Mr Jones stated that the Masterton Primary Schools would give the fullest co-op-eration. Mr Norman Lee said it would cost at least £lOOO to provide hospital equipment for 50 beds for an emergency hospital. He stated that with the camp established at Tauherenikau it was quite possible that the Hospital Board would be called upon to make provision for 200 or 300 men if an influenza epidemic were to break out. If the sub-centre undertook to make such a provision it would be a great service to all. It was decided that any surplus funds from the Paddy's Market should be used to provide extra hospital supplies.