A NATIONAL SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 209, 1 September 1916, Page 7

A NATIONAL SERVICE.

AMBULANCE AMD RED CROSS WORK. AUCKLAND'S ORGANISATIONS. [Paragraphs of interest from workers of St. Jolm and kindred organisation)! would be appreciated. Bend to "Brigade ltcporter," Box 1081, by Thursday of each week. J On Tuesday, 22nd iost., a large number of members of the St. John Nursing Division assembled in the Ambulance Station, and Dr. McDougall gave a most interesting lecture, with tests and demonstrations, concerning kidney diseases. This was the moet thorough treatment of the subject ever given to the Division, and was much appreciated. The Queen Mary Guild continues its activities on behalf of our sick and wounded soldiers, and is doing splendid work. September Cth is the anniversary of the opening of the Epsom Convalescent Home; for Wounded Soldiers. This will especially interest St. John Ambulance and Red Cross readers, because it is No. 1 Convalescent Home in New Zealand, and its staff i.s drawn from 'the Kpsom Nursing Division. On the evening of the Ctli nil old patients will be entertained at a '"Birthday Party" to meet again in the ''Dear old Home," oe old patients who are now lighting in France fondly call it. Dr. 15. .1. Dudley, hon. surgeon of the Epsom Nursing Division, is in camp at Awapuni. Dr. Newton Drier has kindly consented to fill the vacancy. The Division is exceedingly fortunate to secure such an excellent lecturer -and a iloctor who has just returned from work in the field in France. With the summer days approaching, the St. John Ambulance Brigade work in the football field is almost finished. The public who attend matches are aware that every football ground has in attendant*; one or more of the wearers of the eight-pointed star. In some grounds a proper ambulance room is provided, and here, with the aid of a califont and proper utensils, the patiei.t is treated as skilfully as would be the case in any institution. On other grounds the lack of appliances is made up by the Brigade haversacks carried by members. Sometimes it is a kick in the solar plexus, sometimes a more serious injury, but whatever the accident, members of St. John are quickly in attendance. They do not go on the field until the referee gives three blast* on his whistle—the recognised signal that friende of the player have given all the help they can, and that something out of the ordinary has happened. Fortunately, the number of serious accidents is relatively few, largely due to the good spirit in which the game i.s played. It is worth while noting that very many players who rub a comrade to rid him of cramp do so in a downward direction. This ie wrong. The part should be rubbed upwards in the direction of the venous blood. . St. John Ambulance Brigade attends to all cases of civil work, football grounds, race meetings, and similar functions. For military work the N.Z.F.A, have charge. Should a serious accident occur whereby numbers of people required treatment, as would be the case in a tram or train accident, the Corps Superintendent would be notified, and he could instantly get in touch with the leaders of' sections and the Nuroing Divisions. The Brigade could be mobilised very swiftly, and there is every appliance ready, so that a fullyequipped detachment could move off at any hour of the day or night. It is hoped that occasion will never arise to put this organisation into motion, but the motto of the Brigade is the same as that of the Scoute, "Be prepared." During the summer Mr. F. J. Hutchinson, Corpa Superintendent, proposes to hare test mobilisations for the cake of practice. It is not without justifiable pride that the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John have issued the report for a year's operation to the 20th of October. Rarely can it have chanced that a statement of accounts hoe brought such a consolation to the nation as is imparted by the study of the return of income and expenditure of the Joint War Committee. Their budget is truly a. colossal one, no less a sum than .£1,804.030 has been provided by the public for the purpose of the Joint Committee, and of this £1,042,271 has been expended at homo and in every theatre of war. Wherever our armies have gone, wherever our Allies have been in need of help and could be reached, the Red Cross has pone on its mission of mercy, with willing workers prepared to face all trials and dangers. The last official figures which are to hand show that over 20,000 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade are serving their country in the R.A.\f.C or the Naval Sick Berth Reserve. Xhese men for many years past have trained to become euicient for the work which they are now doing, and they are carrying it out in a manner which can only be spoken of in the highest terms of commendation and as being worthy of the tradition of the Brigade. It ie almost needleae to add that the work will go on while the war lasts. In his dispatch issued by the War Office. Sir lan Hamilton makew the following reference to the work of the Army Medical Service*:—" A feature of every report, narrative, or diary I have read has been a tribute to the stretcher bearers. All ranks, from generals in command to wounded men in hospital, arc unanimous in their praise. I have watched a party from the moment when tie telephone summoned them from their dug-out to the time when they returned with their wounded. To ccc them run light-heartedly across fireswept elopes is to be privileged to witneee a superb example of the hero in man. N o braver corps exists, and I believe the reason to be that all thought of self is instinctively flung aside when the saving of others is the motive"