RED CROSS SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1941, Page 2

RED CROSS SOCIETY

MASTERTON SUB-CENTRE MONTHLY MEETING OF MEMBERS PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS GROUPS. At the monthly meeting of the Masterton Sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society, Mrs Tolhurst presided. Miss Grant, who hdd been elected a vice-president to the Society, was welcomed to the meeting. The report of a special, meeting, which was called following a request from the Matron of the Masterton Hospital that the Red Cross Society should do something to assist in finding suitable forms of congenial occupation for the soldiers in hospital, was read. At this meeting, the following committee was set up to organise this work: —Miss 'Wolters (Women’s Institutes), Mrs J. G. Dagg (Townswomen’s Guild). Mrs Brockett (Red-Cross Society). Mr Smith and Mr F. Price. Mrs Brockett reported that two visits had been made to the hospital and a start had been made with weaving. A recommendation from the finance committee that the above committee should have authority to spend a sum up to £lO on materials necessary for the soldiers to work with, was approved by the meeting. Miss Grant had stressed the importance or occupational work for soldiers in hospital, and it was felt that the Red Cross Society should do all possible io assist with this matter.

The president thanked the Prisoners of War Committee which had given so much time to the work of making up the parcels to be sent by the next-of-kin to Masterton men who were prisoners, of war. The preparing of these parcels entailed a great deal of work as great care was necessary to see that all regulations were comformed to and that each parcel was the correct weight; also that the garments sent would combine the maximum warmth while occupying the minimum space. Seventeen parcels had been completed and sent away. The Sub-Centre was asked to nominate two delegates to act on the North Island Voluntary Aid Committee. It was decided that Mrs Stewart and Mrs Herbert (Pahiatua), who were the two V.A. Commandants in the Wairarapa were nominated.

It was reported that the last month had been a particularly busy one for all the working groups and that there was plenty of work still in hand. The hospital group had completed twelve heavy dressing-gowns for the hospital ship. A case consisting of 215 articles had been sent to Wellington headquarters. A case of hospital requirements had been forwarded to Mr Lee for Emergency Hospital Organisation, and a second case was now ready for dispatch, In spite of the scarcity of wool supplies, the knitting group had been very busy and 40 knitted garments had been made. Twenty hospital pullovers had been knitted from wool supplied from Wellington. The sewing group had packed and forwarded two cases of warm clothes for distressed British civilians. The 226 garments sent away consisted of warm clothing for babies, women and small girls and there is now a supply of boys’ clothing ready to pack. Mrs Cook, on behalf of the hospital auxiliary, reported that regular’ visits were made to the soldiers in hospital and comforts supplied to them. Men able to go out were taken for drives and had been invited to various homes for afternoon tea. Miss Deal was thanked for the gift of a “Victory'’ cushion for the soldiers’ ward. Mrs Barrer notified the meeting that the Women’s Division had undertaken the collection of small jars, etc., with screw tops, and these couid be left at the W.D.F.U. rooms. A receptacle had been placed for these in the Arcade. The Women's Division also asked for dried herbs such as mint, sage, thyme, parsley, etc., for sending overseas.