V.A.D. UMTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1943, Page 2

V.A.D. UMTS

PARADE IN MASTERTON DIRECTOR-GENERAL VISITS AREA. WELCOME TO MISS H. I. CROOKE. At a large and representative gathering in Masterton this morning a welcome was tendered to Miss H. I. Crooke, DirectorGeneral of Red Cross V.A.D.’s in New Zealand, who is at present on a tour of the Wairarapa district. The Masterton, Tiraumea and Country Districts Sub-Centres of the Red Cross were fully represented and Red Cross transport and other V.A.D. units were on parade. Mr. Norman Lee, president of the Wairarapa Centre, extended a welcome to Miss Crooke and paid a tribute to the work of the V.A.D.’s as an hospital auxiliary, and to the work of the Red Cross transport section. The Mayor of Masterton, Mr, T. Jordan, read a report of the work of the V.A.D.’s and the Red Cross transport during last year’s earthquake and when an emergency occurred in the district.' He said it was apparent that in an emergency the civil organisation could effectively co-operate with the Army and Home Guard units. The voluntary aids, said Mr. Jordan, who had gone overseas were a credit to themselves and to the organisation. Miss Crooke said that the Wairarapa V.A.D.’s and the Red Cross transport section had a very good record. Although in wartime the voluntary organisations were at a disadvantage with the competition from other avenues of service, wonderful work was being done. The organisation was entirely voluntary and the trainees had to provide their own uniforms, pay their training fees, buy their own text books and render unpaid service. Miss Crooke said the trainees had a great opportunity for unselfish service. Miss Crooke, with Mesdames A. F. Stewart and Parsonson (lady superintendents) inspected the units on parade and congratulated them on their very creditable showing. Morning tea was served.