ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25732, 18 February 1949, Page 3

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

DOMINION CONFERENCE OPENED DEVELOPMENT OF NURSING DIVISIONS URGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON. February 17. Sir James Elliott, sub-prior of the Priory of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, opening the Dominion conference of officers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade to-day, said he would like to see the nursing divisions developing the one main function of the brigade—that of caring for the sick and aged. This, he said, was the function of prior importance and consonant with the objects and aims of the nursing divisions. They were doing a great deal of nursing work, but it seemed to him that they might tend to do too much first aid work on sports fields. “In all parts of the Dominion, there are large numbers of pensioners—elderly people—living in rooms, and if they are ill, there is no one to care for them,” he continued. “There is a great deal to be done in this direction, and it is to our credit to extend the wofk of caring for these folk.” Sir James Elliott referred to the conference cf all representatives of the order from home and overseas priories in London in June. New Zealand would be represented at the conference, which was being held primarily to discuss the granting by the King of a new charter to the order.