WHEELCHAIR AMBULANCE

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 14

WHEELCHAIR AMBULANCE

Reference To “Strike”

The use of the word "strike” in reference to the use of the wheelchair vehicle for transporting wheelchair patients to hospital for treatment had not been serious, the secretary-treasurer of the St John. Ambulance Association (Mr G. A. Brown) said last evening. In a letter to the editor of ‘The Press” Mr Brown said he apologised for the use of the word. Mr Brown had been quoted M saying at a meeting of the Christchurch Coordinating Council for the Handicapped that the St John Ambulance Association would have a strike on its bands if the wheelchair ambulance was used to transport wheelchair patients to hospital for treatment.

“Although I did use the word ‘strike* I was not serious with the use of the word at a very friendly meeting to which I was invited to attend and answer questions,” he said in the letter. Mr Brown said that the vehicle had been given to the association for use for pleasure by those confined to wheelchairs. It was not licensed as a passenger-carrying vehicle and as the transport of outpatients was paid for by the Hospital Board, the driving officers of the association felt, and rightly so, that until the vehicle was incorporated into the association’s fleet, they should continue to transport patients for treatment, Mid Mr Brown. Tn view of my statement I readily apologise to my staff for the use of the word, unhesitatingly withdraw it and regret my indiscretion, as I have no reason whatever to think they would strike in any circumstances and under the existing arrangements have been most careful to ask any voluntary drivers to convey, in the vehicle, any patient for treatment,” he Mid.

Mr Brown Mid that he did not My that “the New Zealand preoccupation with unions would preclude such a thing,” as had been reported inTbePress/’