WORK OF ST. JOHN'S.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 73, 28 March 1938, Page 10

WORK OF ST. JOHN'S.

ALL-ROUND INCREASES.

AIR RAID INSTRUCTION.

The large increase in the activities of the St. John Ambulance Brigade throughout the Dominion is shown in the annual report of the Chief Commissioner for New Zealand. Colonel G. Barclay, 0.8. E. Membership, divisions and services have all increased in the last 12 months.

Membership now* totals 4693, against 4482 for 1936, while the new divisions numbered 23. These comprised eight ambulances, four nursing, eight cadet ambulances and three cadet nursing. The increase in the number of services was from 68.207 in 1936 to 71,882 last year. First-aid cases attended to by officers on public duty numbered 29,691, of which Epsom, AucMand and Point Chevalier did more than 1000 each. The Auckland Grammar School cadets attended to ">BO minor cases at the school. On a Saturday afternoon during the winter season, 284 members attended 343 games in the Auckland district, treating 717 cases. This was the largest total in the Dominion, Wellington coming next with 302 cases. The number of cases of first aid attended-to not on public dutv totalled 32,825, against 29,794 for 1930.

In transport work, 8068 cartes were accounted for, compared with 7534 cases for 1936. From the records kept by the various divisions, there was shown to have been a total attendance of 7851 members waiting to help with transport work, and of 30,095 hours spent on the work.

In the Auckland district the total personnel is 1887, of which the adult strength is 490. No f£wer than 1183 cadet certificates were issued in the district during the yean' Dealing with staff changes in the Auckland district, the report states that Dr. C. E. A. Coldicutt had resigned his position as corps surgeon after a lengthy connection with the brigade. He had given eminent service. His place had been taken by Dr. J. A. Watson.

The possibility of air raids had not been forgotten by the brigade, for the report states that during the year lectures and other instruction had been carried out in various centres, and it waR hoped to extend the service during 1938. There was a general desire among members for greater knowledge of the subject.