RED CROSS SOCIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 10

RED CROSS SOCIETY

RAETIHI BRANCH FORMED (Own Correspondent.) RAETIHI. Feb. 2. A meeting convened by His Worship the Mayor (Dr. W. J. Feltham) was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday evening when those interested in the formation of a branch of the Red Cross Society attended. His Worship presided and introduced the speaker, Mr. Ira Bridger, Director-General of the Red Cross Society in New Zealand.

Mr. Bridger opened his address with a most interesting talk on the history of the Red Cross movement, tracing it from the time of Florence Nightingale up to the present day. In the early days the society was for the aid of soldiers only. In 1854 the General Convention was inaugurated and it was Florence Nightingale again who laid down some of the foundation rules at that convention. From then on the movement grew and spread to many countries and covered treatment of all branches of human suffering. At the present time there are 63 countries belonging to the society, which has approximately 40 million members. To illustrate the wonderful work being done by the society, Mr. Bridger quoted the disastrous floods in America in 1937 when over a million people were fed, clothed, sheltered and started in life by the organisation. He spoke also of the fine spirit of friendship among members of the different countries and instanced the conditions in China to-day. Headquarters had sent to China £9OOO for relief besides a quota of doctors and nurses. Then Japan was asked if she needed assistance and she replied that she had plenty to spare and was helping her sister organisation in China.

Proceeding, Mr. Bridger outlined the aims and objects of the society and touched on the work of the Junior Red Cross which, he stated, would bear much fruit in the years to come. Service is the keynote of their object and their motto “I Serve.” The speaker stressed the need for a large number of trained men and women to be ready in the event of any disaster or epidemic in this country. A move was being made to establish a branch in every town in New Zealand. In concluding his address, Mr. Bridger paid special tribute to the courtesy and assistance he had received from His Worship the Mayor and called for a hearty vote of thanks from those present. A motion was passed by the meeting that a branch of the Red Cross Society in Raetihi, those present being constituted the general committee. Officers Elected. The following officers were elected: President, Dr. W. J. Feltham; vicepresidents, Miss D. Giddy and Mr. A. M. Laing; executive committee, Messrs. T. Shout (chairman), C. F. Goodman, G. F. Hunt, W. Jack, W. P. Mead, Mrs. T. A. Fletcher, Misses J. Shout, V. Eastman; secretary, Mr. W. P. Mead; general committee, the above-named and Mrs. W. P. Mead, Mrs. Houghton, Mrs. T. Dobson, Mrs. A. Head, Mrs. L. Eastman, Mrs. H. J. Manson, Mrs. F. L. Smith and Miss M. Manson.