WORK OF ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21247, 20 August 1934, Page 12

WORK OF ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

«► BRIGADE INSPECTED (; () VI- RN()R -<E NER A L (i RE XT L Y IMTRESSED II is Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Blcdisloe) and Lady Bledisloe inspected the St. John Ambulance brigade on Saturday evening, at the headquarters in Peterborough street. His Excellency in his address to more than 500 members of the brigade and the association who assembled tor the inspection, congratulated them on the work their order was doingwork which, he said, had been a great inspiration to himself and Lady Bledisloo during their period in New Zealand. I lis Excellency is patron of the St. John Ambulance Association in New Zealand. A guard of honour was formed by cadets of the association, and their Excellencies immediately after their arrival inspected the various units—the ambulance, nursing, cadet, rover scout, and girl guide divisions, who were assembled in the hall. They were conducted through the ranks by the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C.. Knight Commander of the brigade in New Zealand, and president of the Canterbury and West Coast centre: Dr. J. Restell Thomas, chairman of the local executive; Dr F. J. Carrie, assistant commissioner: Mrs A. L. Bishop. lady superintendent; and Mr C. 11. Kersley. secretary to the centre. Sir Heaton Rhodes welcomed their Excellencies and thanked them for making the inspection. Lord Bledisloo had given the association his patronage, he said, and he did not suppose his Excellency knew or realised what a great help he had been to every member. Whole-Hearted Admiration i "There is none of the many benej volent and beneficent organisations in this country that has evoked our whole-hearted admiration mo"o than that to which you belong, ' said Lord Bledisloe. "Your motto 'For the service of mankind,' is as line a motto as that possessed by any body of men and women m any part of the world: and it should be so with such a great, society and .ancient, order, which has existed for many centuries, and which has demonstrated its practical sympathy and service to mankind in peace as well as in war.'' Wherever there was a scene of activity coupled with some element of danger, there in the forefront were members of the. 1 St. John ambulance, his Excellency said, ready to brine expert knowledge as well as individual resourcefulness to give alleviation to those suffering accident. No work had been such an inspiration to himself and Lady Bledisloe as the work, efficient, prompt, sympathetic and extremely capable, which was done by members of the order during the Hawke's Bav earthquake. So great an impression had it made upon them that he had sent a special message to his Roval Highness the Duke of (,'onnanght. head of the order. The work of the association had boon one of the greatest sources of inspiration to him and to Lady Bledisloe during the tnr.e they had represented his Majesty the King and her Majesty the Queen, Jin New Zealand. ; IMomoers Congratulated ffis Excellency said that he and Lady Bledisloe had been greatly impressed by the parade, particularly by the evident health of the members of the brigade, and their expression of radiant happiness, which could come only from mutual helpfulness. He congratulated all who were present upon their membership of the order, i Lord Bledisloe presented to I George Edward Mapstone, of New Brighton, champion of champions of the cadet division, a handsome cup, the cost, of which their Excellencies had met in a large part themselves. Lord Bledisloe said that lie was delighted to see such a large number of cartels among the parade, land to know of Ihe assistance the I boy scouts, girl guides, ;ind th r> i Yonrifi Men's Christian Association ! were giving to the association, FI'NDS FOR .\.\li;ri,.\\('E j I.ORI) i;l.l'.l)ISI.()|; , S AI'I'EAI. | An urgent appeal to tho'-o who h;irl ; not already none so. to give financial siiooorl tfi |he Si. John Atnbuj lance .'V "ocj;ii ion and so avoir! th fl I n< re.'sit.v «.f handing over its cn- ' t rnl in the Government or to priivate enterprise, was mad'' by his j Excellency the Goverjior-Genernl I (Lord Bledisloe) in hfa Address at l t|u- headquarters of the association Jon Satm'd.-iy evenme. His Excellency. wim is patron of the association 111 »w Zealand, expressed I high appreciation oi' the work of | the brigade. j Lord Bledisloe referred to a ! statement, in the "St. John Ainbuj lance Review," that 951 calls for j invalid transport had been made during the last quarter, costing the (association nearly ,£. r )27, while the ! contributions received amounted to Ino more than Csl. In the same I paragraph the review went on to . ''.xpress a lear winch he for his p;.d Jiarerl, lest, for inadequate i .-.import the work of the association | should coine to be undertaken by I the Government or some commercial | group. It would be disastrous if I,he movement were to be used for I ui ofit. j "As patron of the association I j most warmlv thank -ill ;ivtsc v. ho have helped ihis movement in the I oast." Ins ExeeJl-nev said, "and I ma he an urgent anneal to those J who have not yet done so to come forward and give their assistance before it becomes a Government property and is dried up by lack of individual interest, or still worse, the property of a private company. I earnestly hope that assistance will b r ' forthcoming in recognition of your beneficence and so enable you !o grow a'id be always as vigorous a movement as you are at the present time."