RED CROSS SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1943, Page 3

RED CROSS SOCIETY

MASTERTON SUB-CENTRE PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES The monthly meeting of the Masterton Sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society was held last night. Mrs Tolhurst presided. The finance committee recommended that the grant made by the general committee at its meeting on September 1 to the joint relief committee at Geneva and Dominion headquarters of £l5O be reduced to £lO0 —£50 to the joint’ relief committee and £5O to Dominion headquarters. This reduction was considered necessary in order to retain sufficient funds to carry the sub-centre on till the end of the financial year on March 31, 1944. The recommendation was adopted. The knitting group reported the completing of 22 garments. It was reported that the sewing group had sufficient goods on hand to pack another case for sending overseas.

One case of distress was dealt with in September. It was announced that the hospital group had completed 200 articles for the centre and also made 12 triangular and a number of roller bandages for use in first aid classes in the sub-centre.

The prisoner of war committee reported that instructions had been received for the next-of-kin of prisoners of war in Italy to continue to send quarterly parcels as usual. The usual address is to be used and parcels are to be sent c/o N.Z. High Commissioner in London. These would be forwarded immediately information giving the location of prisoner was received. The hospital auxiliary reported that it had carried out regular visiting and had distributed comforts. It was reported that transport work was increasing as well as the regular daily work in connection with the patients having treatment at the hospital. In appreciation of the work being done by the transport service the sub-centre made a grant of £2 10s to each member towards her uniform and it was decided that £27 10s be paid to the centre. All other costs are being met by the Transport members. It was pointed out to the meeting that in carrying out transport work members were giving their time, the use of their cars and met the cost of all running repairs. Petrol for the work done was supplied by the Army Sick and Wounded Committee. Mrs Brockett reported the usual handcraft work carried on at the hospital. The following were thanked for their help: Mr Dagg for a carpenter’s bench, Mr Graham, a carpenters square and brushes, Mrs Dagg leatherwork tools, Messrs Levin & Co belt and pulley and Anon, ruskin enamels. Mr Lee spoke of work done amongst the women and children of the starving countries by the Joint Relief Committee at Geneva and how this work was limited for want of funds. Miss Cruickshank referred to the visit of Miss Crook, director general of the Red Cross voluntary aids, to the Wairarapa, and to the enormous task which lay ahead of the Red Cross Society in its various patriotic and other activities.