SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21759, 16 April 1936, Page 12

SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION A SUCCESSFUL YEAR REVIEWED Although the attendance was not large—about 100 persons were present —there was no lack of enthusiasm at the fiftieth annual meeting of subscribers to the St. John Ambulance Association (Canterbury and West Coast centre), which took place last night. The president, Colonel the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, was in the chair and apologised for being unable to address the meeting on account of indisposition. Annual Report In the annual report the committee recorded with deep regret the death of Mr Pratt, who had been a helper of the order, and Nurse Maude, who was always a staunch supporter of the centre. During the 12 months ended December 31, 1935, 21 classes of instruction in first aid to the injured, home nursing, and hygiene were formed. The number of persons who attended the courses of five pr more lectures, including members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, who passed corps re-examinations was 694 as against 703 in 1934; 632 qualifying for a certificate as-against 625 in the Preceding year. Of these 73 qualified for the medallion and 188 for the label, as compared with 93 and 135 respectively during the previous period. Three hundred and seventy-six attended junior courses of instruction and re-exam-inations as against 141 in the previous year Public first aid depots were established and maintained by the association 41 kits depots and 20 stretcher and kit depots for the use of the general public at various important points in the city, suburbs, and surrounding districts, and also at surf clubs and relief camps. The voluntary work of the dressing station department was still maintaining its standard. In the invalid transport service, during the 12 months ended December 31, 1935, the ambulances transported 4147 cases, the total milage being 42,961.1, as against 4038 cases and 44,246.7 miles for 1934. Cost of the service £1290 19s 2d was made up as follows:—Repairs, accessories, petrol, oil, registrations, license fees, insurances, uniforms, and wages of drivers, laundry arid replenishments, telephone rental first aid stores, etc. Donations received from people who had used an ambulance amounted to £3Ol 3s lOd. The annual appeal for 1935 was held on Wednesday, December 4, 1935. The sale of badges this year was disappointing and it could be attributed to the fact that the appeal was held on a Wednesday. The amount collected, £605 18s Id, was less than the previous year. The report went on to make special mention of the steady increase in the circulation of the "Review" during the last year and it could now be said that it had firmly established itself as a magazine of information and interest A suggestion which had received the approval of the Chief Commissioner was that each division in New Zealand should contribute £1 Is from its funds as a life membership subscription—this of course would be in addition to the individual subscriptions of 3s 6d annually. Appreciation was expressed of .the work of the ladies' auxiliary. In the early part of the year the women responded to the call for help for the children's fund, and got together and procured materials and flannels, which were made into suitable garments, and contributed to the children's special relief fund. Several of the members helped once again in the sorting of the postman's drive, and also to distribute the goods at the depot. During the year picture evenings and dances had been run and jumble sales, etc.. held to help raise funds to get materials to work with. During the Queen Carnival the women worked on behalf of the retailers' queen. Thanks were offered to the employees of the numerous business firms for their contributions of Id a week towards the invalid transport service, and also to all other numerous workers and supporters. The balance-sheet disclosed receipts amounting to £2289 10s sd, and expenditure to £2561 Is 7d, leaving a deficiency of £271 lis 2d.

Transportation Costs

Speaking to the annual report, Dr. J. Restell Thomas commented on the cost of transport. The expenditure under this head, £2244, contrasted sharply with the donations from users of the ambulances, which totalled olny £439. People were inclined to take the service too much for granted. They relied upon the ambulance for safe and speedy transport to hospital, and expected it to be on hand at a moment's call, but they failed to realise that this service involved considerable expenditure, which had to be found by some means or other. It behoved people to recognise more fully that the work had to be done, and that if the association did not carry it out it would have to be undertaken by others, probably at a much greater expense to the community. In seconding the motion, Mr C. W. Hervey said the year had been a strenuous one for the officers of the association, and according to a certificate from the auditor, their work was to be commended. In view of the heavy debit on running the ambulances the loss on the association's activities —a little more than £2oo—was surprisingly good. Mr Hervey spoke appreciatively of the support accorded the association by the local bodies, and a particularly pleasing feature was the large increase in the amount of donations from employers of city firms which rose from £2B in 1934 to £l6O in 1935. Speaking optimistically of the future, Mr Hervey said that a new ambulance would be on the road in a few weeks, and he felt assured that they could look forward to a continuance of the hearty support—so largely deserved—they had received from the people of Christchurch. Another £IOOO was really needed annually for the association's work to be carried out as it should be done for a district the size of Christchurch.

Mr W. G. Chapman (representing the Waimairi County Council) contended that the association was running its ambulances to the outer areas too frequently. In districts such as Akaroa and Little River, for instance, where they had their own residential doctors and hospital accommodation, they should, if not satisfied with the treatment they received, be prepared to pay for ambulance transport. Referring to accident cases, Mr Chapman said that his experience was that insurance companies, were only too willing to pay the cost of ambulance use, and did pay, but the association was not getting this money. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted after general appreciation had been expressed at the satisfactory conduct of the affairs of the association.

Officers Elected

Gratification was expressed at the acceptance during the year of the patronship of the association by their Excellencies Lord and Lady Galway, and they were reappointed to office. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes was re-elected president and all of last year's vice-presi-dents were re-elected. The following were appointed as a general committee:—Mrs S. Watkins, Miss H. Scott, Lieutenant-Colonel F. B. Creswell, Dr. M. G. Louisson. Messrs A. Williams, B. J. McKenna, H. P. Donald, A. Macgillivray, A. C. Maxwell, and the following as brigade members:—Mrs A. L. Bishop, Mrs A. E. Fricker, Misses L. P. Butler, J. Pegler, Major J. W. Crampton, Messrs T. F. S. Rudd, F. J. Ashworth, C. Marx, and V. Piercey.

The Brigade

On behalf of the assistant commissioner, Dr. F. J. Borrie, Major Crampton commented on the annual report of the St. Joh,n Ambulance Brigade, whose activities had been well main-

tained during the year. Referring to the Christchurch corps, the report stated that the numerical strength had been largely increased and the efficiency was well up to standard. Members were to be congratulated on their devotion to public service in attendance at the dressing station and on ambulance duty, both of which services, were greatly appreciated by the public. One new nursing division was formed towards the close of the year, the Sumner Nursing Division. For the first time on record in the Canterbury district, and probably in New Zealand, a new ambulance division had been formed by cadets as a body passing up to form a new senior division, the Sumner Ambulance Division. The two divisons in the Lyttelton subcentre had also worked effectively and well, and excellent work had been carried out by outlying divisions and sub-centres. Presentation of Awards Service certificates and other awards were presented by the president, as follows: Certificates—Lady District Superintendent E. E. Angus, Selwyn Nursing Division; Ambulance Sister H. E. Garrard, Selwyn Nursing Division; Lady Divisional Secretary A. M. McPhail, Selwyn Nursing Division; Private W. R. Palmer, Christchurch Ambulance Division. Service Awards —Private W. D, Harper, 1932-33-34. No. 3 Ambulance Division; Private G. H. Dunlop, 1931-32-33, No. 3 Ambulance Division; Private W. Armstrong, 1932-33-34, No. 3 Ambulance Division.

Service Chevron—Private R. McGrath, Christchurch Ambulance Division.

Service Bars—Divisional Superintendent F. S. Bonnington, Christchurch Railway Ambulance Division; Ambulance Sister S. Davies, Christchurch Nursing Division. Grand Prior's Badge—John Dodgson, Christchurch Cadet Ambulance Division; Hazel Smith, Christchurch Cadet Nursing Division; Winnie Rogers, Christchurch Cadet Nursing Division; Doreen Tapling, Christchurch Cadet Nursing Division; Eileen Wilson, Christchurqh Cadet Nursing Division; William G. Whitmore, No. 3 Ambulance Division.

Service Awards—Cadet J. Dickson, Christchurch Nursing Cadet Division (star for 1932-33-34).

Cadet Proficiency Badges—Cadet P. Shannahan, No. 3 Cadet Ambulance Division; Cadet N. Williams, No. 3 Cadet Ambulance Division; Cadet Joyce Robertson, Christchurch Nursing Division Cadets; Cadet Natalie Hammond, Christchurch Nursing Division Cadets; Cadet D. Cowens, Christchurch Cadet Ambulance Division; Cadet R. T. Evans, No. 3 Cariet Ambulance Division; Cadet G. Dickson, No. 3 Cadet Ambulance Division; Cadet R. E. Todd, No. 3 Cadet Ambulance Diivsion.

Medallions were presented as follows:—Harold G. Ablett, Miss D. J. Buchanan, Miss E. M. Eullen. Miss G. E. Choate, Clarence T. E. Day, Frank L. Dixey, Miss. E. C. 1. Goode, Miss M. Harrow, Miss B. J. Head, Bernard H. Johnston, Miss Freda A. Kite, Lawrence W. Mellor, Miss N, E. Mcintosh, Mrs J. N. Perrin, Mrs E. Porteous, Mrs I. M. Pratt, Mrs R. W. Roder, Thomas S. Shaw, Miss N. ,E. Simpson. The meeting closed with hearty votes of thanks to the secretary-organ-iser, Mr C. H. Kinsley, and his assistant, Miss Clarke, arid to all other helpers.