RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1941, Page 2

RED CROSS ACTIVITIES

STEPS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH PRISONERS. GRANTS FOR EQUIPMENT, ETC. A summary of Red Cross activities carried on under the auspices of the joint council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society during May states that enquiry bureaux had been set up in the four main cities, operated by special subcommittees with the assistance of voluntary helpers. The address of the headquarters office is: Prisoners of War Enquiry Bureau, P.O. Box 73, Te Aro, Wellington. Inquiries made overseas show that all arrangements have been completed to despatch letters and parcels to New Zealanders held as prisoners of war. The Commissioner, Middle East, advised that friends should not send parcels until instructed, as the forwarding arrangements might break down. The joint council has released a further £lOOO sterling to aid the International Red Cross Prisoners of War Agency, Geneva, making a total of £l5OO. This agency is performing a most valuable work. The staff comprises 3650 persons, of whom all give their services gratuitously with the exception of 692 officials who receive remunerations on a very modest scale. The agency receives mail matter at the rate of 60,000 letters per day and from the day hostilities opened till November 30 last, had sent out 2,372,721 letters or cards in response to inquiries.

The request for a portable X-ray unit for the No. 1 General Hospital has been approved by the joint council. Purchase has been effected at a cost of £460 and the unit shipped to its destination. Comforts for the forces stationed in the Pacific have been replenished and in addition to a large supply iff comforts and clothing sent to the hospital ship Maunganui, groceries, etc., to the value of £1046, have been placed on the vessel. The surgical dressings committee had a busy month. Donations to the Sick and Wounded Fund to date amounted to £592,000, from which £114,424 has been expended on medical equipment, hospital comforts, suplementary to army supply and grants to British and Allied countries for relief of refugees and air raid sufferers.