BRIGADE PRAISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 46, 24 February 1936, Page 9

BRIGADE PRAISED.

HIGH REPUTATION.

ST.. JOHN HEADQUARTERS

"BEST SEEN IN EMPIRE."

The statement that the headquarters of the St. John Ambulance Association were the best he had seen in the British Empire was made by Colonel J. L. Sleeman, Chief Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, in addressing a parade of brigadesmen at Carlaw Park 011 Saturday afternoon. In addition, he said, the division had a high reputation at St. John's Gate, London. Colonel Sleeman congratulated the 400 brigadesmen present on the smartness of their appearance.

"This reflects the greatest credit not only on the officers concerned," he said, referring to the headquarters, "but on the municipality, the general public and the Press of Auckland, who have shown their appreciation of the great work done by the brigade."

Colonel Sleeman referred to the state of emergency in which officers of the brigade had always to hold themselves in the event of disaster. He could recall with pride that at the time of the Napier earthquake, which happened at 11 a.m., the first ambulances had arrived at midnight the same day though they had had to travel a long distance round. They who were more or less expert ill the administration of first aid knew that there were few people who could do anything of real value in an emergency, and in many cases victims of accident had to remain for long periods unattended, with consequent loss of blood and shock. Throughout the Empire, said the speaker, there were now 74,000 men and women who were giving all their spare time for nothing to the service of others, and they could record with pride that each year over 500,000 people were treated by them, and about 500 lives saved. He recalled to them that they belonged to the oldest Order of chivalry, and wore the cross of St. John, which was instituted in 847 A.D., whereas, the oldest regimental badge was dated only from 1040.

Impressive Ceremony. The ceremony at the Park was a most impressive one, and the Chief Commissioner in his address complimented those attending 011 their smartness. It was carried out in a licat so intense that two members of the nursing division collapsed and had to receive attention from their fellow •brigadesmen. Composing the parade were the Brigade, Nursing, Cadet and Cadet Nursing divisions, and they made a fine sight as they paraded past the Commissioner, who took the salute. Later demonstrations of first aid were givenj including the rescue of some ''entombed'' miners and their treat--111 Following the parade there was the further impressive ceremony of investiture of two serving sisters and one nursing brother of the Hospital of St. John in Jerusalem —a ceremonial which Colonel Sleeman pointed out was 800 years old. Miss M. E. Dawson and Mrs. E. McDowell were made nursing sisters, and a posthumous award of a brotherhood was made to Superintendent W. H. Elliott, his son, Cadet Superintendent W. 11. C. Elliott, receiving the honour. Other awards were also made.

Officers attending the parade included Messrs. C. J. Tunks, Commissioner for the Auckland district; F. J. Hutchinson, assistant commissioner; A. W. Probert, district superintendent; U. Hitchen, F. E. Scolefield and C. W. Gooderman, district officers. The Corps Superintendent, C. E. A. Lindesay, was in charge of the parade, and the Nursing Division was under the command of Lady Corps Superintendent E. Cammell.