RED CROSS SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1943, Page 2

RED CROSS SOCIETY

MASTERTON SUB-CENTRE. MONTHLY MEETING OF MEMBERS At the monthly meeting of the Masterton sub-centre of the Red Cross Society, Mrs G. G. Tolhurst presiding, a letter was read from headquarters thanking the hospital and the knitting groups for goods sent in and from the centre thanking these two groups for the regular supply of hospital requirements sent into the centre. The K Squadron of the Legion of Frontiersmen forwarded a donation of £2 2s to be used for purchasing tools in connection with soldiers’ occupational handicrafts. 1 Mi’ Lee spoke concerning the work done by the joint relief committee at Geneva and of their urgent need of immediate funds for carrying on relief work amongst the women and children of Europe and also the necessity for funds for the N.Z. Red Cross headquarters. It was decided that a grant of £l5O be sent to Dominion headquarters through the centre with a recommendation that £lOO be forwarded to the joint relief committee at Geneva for relief of distress, and £5O be donated to Dominion headquarters as the nucleus of a fund to be established for the general purposes of the society. The hospital group reported that 13 dozen articles had been handed in this month. It was stated that knitters had completed 29 garments, mostly longsleeved pullovers. The hospital auxiliary were very grateful to the Maungapakeha Junior Red Cross for its donation of magazines for the hospital. Members of the committee were invited to see the goods that had been made by disabled soldiers of the occupational handicraft circle. These goods will be displayed for sale in the town towards the end of this month. Mr G. Williams was thanked for the gift of timber for a workbench for soldiers and also Mr J. Renner, Mr Goldsmith and Mr Jenkins for the loan of tools and Mr Wagg for setting up a fretsaw.

Mrs Tolhurst spoke concerning the work of the Junior Red Cross, and the forthcoming birthday celebration. Junior Red Cross members in the Wairarapa already number over 2000 and these members are making a valuable contribution to the Red Cross activities. An interesting letter from a Polish soldier to a Junior Red Cross member thanking her for a parcel and for letters, was read to the meeting. In speaking of schools, this soldier expressed the hope that after the war teaching in all schools would be on a basis that will promote international understanding. Miss Beale, speaking on behalf of the Y.M.C.A., asked the society for assistance in forming a Y.W.C.A. auxiliary. It was suggested that first aid be one of the activities, and the Red Cross was asked to suggest a scheme of work that could be submitted to the Y.M.C.A. organising committee for its approval. The society expressed its willingness to assist this work in any way possible. Mrs Tolhurst undertook to get helpful suggestions for this work while she was in Wellington at the Junior Red Cross Conference.