HIGH TRIBUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 233, 1 October 1936, Page 9

HIGH TRIBUTE.

BY NAVAL OFFICER. ST. JOHN AMBULANCE WORK. STREET APPEAL TO-MORROW. "I am surprised that such efficiency exists outside His Majesty's Navy." This striking tribute paid to the St. John Ambulance Association by a prominent naval officer after he himself had had occasion to enlist its aid in the early hours of the morning epitomises the prompt, day and night service and fine work that is carried out, often behind the scenes,, by the association. j Tributes have also been paid by Viscountess Elibank, Colonel J. L. Sleeman, chief commission of St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, and other noted visitors. The public of Auckland have an opportunity of paying practical tribute to-morrow, when the association is making its annual' street collection appeal. By helping the association the donor helps the community and himself. The association is in need of £3000 to carry on its increased services and to pay off the overdraft of £3800 on its new building. The activities of the organsiation are almost legion. At present there are nine ambulances and ten drivers, and it is now necessary to replace one of the ambulances. Last year nearly -100,000 miles were covered and 10,000 patients carried. About 50 -per cent of the patients are unable to pay anything toward the cost of transportation. '' The greater demand by the public on the services of the association extends to all departments. The district nurses paid last year some 15,000 visits to patients at their homes, the total number of miles travelled being over 23,000. In addition, over 5000 cases were attended to at the clinic at the ambulance station in Rutland Street. There are five fully-trained State-registered nurses. This department also supplies food, clothing, bedding and firing to patients in need, and .the cost of this alone is nearly L £_100: a month. .

The medical comforts department supplies every sickroom requisite and crutches and invalid chairs, about 700 articles being loaned last year. Another service of inestimable importance is the blood transfusion bureau, 011 the books of which is a large list of donors available to give every type of transfusion. Further, the station on Queen's wharf attended last year to over 5000 cases of first aid and dressings. Members of the brigade are in attendance at 30 sports grounds each weekend, public meetings and also outdoor functions are attended, while members of the brigade regularly attend missions and kindergartens. The Mayoress, Mrs. Ernest Davis, has made arrangements for about 40 organisations to take part in to-morrow's street collection. The expenses of last year's appeal were less than 4 per cent of the gross amount, the greater portion of the 4 per cent representing advertising.