NEW AMBULANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 22 August 1930, Page 3

NEW AMBULANCE.

UNIT OF ST. JOHN FLEET.

SEVERAL NOVEL FEATURES

COMFORT FOR THE PATIENT.

Several new features are embodied in t'he design of a new motor ambulance which has been built for the St. John Ambulance. The coach is being given its finishing touches in the way of paint and varnish, and will be ready for the road within the next week or so. The new features of the ambulance are the idea of Mr. S. E. Langstone, the ambulance transport officer. Chiefly, they are a single door instead of double doors at the rear, and a soft top instead of a solid one. It was found with the older ambulances that the double doors were inclined to rattle, and the single door is designed to reduce this nuisance to a minimum. The idea of a soft top for the coach, as favoured by most English motor car manufacturers, is to eliminate any "drumming" that might otherwise be heard inside the ambulance. Apart from these two main features there are other minor improvements which should tend to make the new ambulance the equal of anything of its kind in New Zealand. The chassis is an American one, but there is a reason for this. Had an English chassis been purchased the cost would have been almost double. The completed job is costing the St. John authorities slightly more than £700, and they were not able to expend the extra money. Strangely enough, although the St. John Ambulances are under contract to do work for the Auckland Hospital, the Government has not been able to see its way to grant a subsidy as it does in the case of new hospital ambulances. In fact, even the Customs duties on the chassis had to be paid in full. Representations were male to the Government, but the reply was that no assistance could be given at the present time. j As soon as the new coach is delivered one of the others at present in commission will be transferred to Whangarei, for use by the St. John Ambulance there. This will mean that the number at the Rutland Street and Queen's wharf stations will still be four. The hospital has three ambulances, so that the total number in Auckland will be seven. Special springing is expected to make the new ambulance the easiest riding one of the fleet. The St. John drivers are frequently called upon to travel over rough and badly-formed roads, and on these occasions good springing counts for much. The coach will carry two stretchers, each of which will be fitted with adjustable head-rests. It has been found in the past that pillows on ordinary stretchers are apt to move slightly from the movement of the car, and "it was with the idea of eliminating this discomfort that Mr. Langstone hit on the idea of having the stretchers in the new ambulance fitted with adjustable headrests. The body of the ambulance is aluminium, which will be painted In the older ambulances the St. John badge has been painted on the windows, but in the new coach it is neatly embossed in the glass. The ambulance has been built by D.S.C. Cousins and Cousins.