RESIDENT DRIVERS FOR AMBULANCES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22767, 20 July 1939, Page 7

RESIDENT DRIVERS FOR AMBULANCES

* ACCOMMODATION TO MEET EMERGENCY DISCUSSION BY ST. JOHN ASSOCIATION Vigorous discussion at the quarterly meeting of the general committee of the St. John Ambulance Association, Canterbury and West Coast centre, last evening, followed the proposal by Mr H. McCaw to rescind a motion that nothing be done about demolishing the flats at the back of the headquarters building until a new garage had been built with accommodation for drivers. Mr McCaw said that this motion pledged the association to do nothing while the flats were unhealthy and not fit to raise families in. He was supported by Mr B. J. McKenna. Mr McCaw said that if there were no drivers to be resident on the premises, other drivers could easily be obtained in the event of a major disaster in the district at night. The opposite view was taken up by Mr G. Peek, who said that if the association was giving service to the public for which the public was paying, then it could not depend on the public in. that way in an emergency. Though the association had been offered an extra £IOO annually if the dance hall was enlarged after the demolition of the flats, only £2l of this would be actual gain because of the loss in rentals from the flats. Mr A. E. Forsey also opposed the motion to rescind, saying that the building had been put up to further the association’s work for mankind, and now first considerations were being given to the dancers. After much discussion had been heard, one speaker said that to rescind the motion would merely be to leave it open for' further discussion, and would not be to commit the association to any action, and the original motion was rescinded. A letter from the Central District Amulance Service in Sydney advised that a two-way radio communication apparatus for ambulances was working very well. Efforts will be made to have an inspection made of the Sydney equipment by a member of the association.