AMBULANCE MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 755, 2 March 1910, Page 6

AMBULANCE MATTERS.

CLAIM FOE CUSTOMS DUTY. A PEOPOSED CONFEEENCE. Several matters of interest were dealt with by the committee of the St. John Ambulance Society at a meoting hold yesterday, over which Mr. C. P. Powles presided. The chairman reported that Messrs. Lyons and Co. had undertaken to erect, a separate building for the society's van and new brougham. The secretary stated that Customs duty to the amount of .£3l 15s. 6d. had been charged for the new ambulance brougham on the ground that it could have been mado in the Dominion. He had applied for a rebate, and had received a reply that there was no power to grant the request.

: A lady member: But. I don't'think we paid duty, on our first van. . ! The secretary: That. was. a long while ago, and the Government, was -not so hard up then.. ; Advice was received from • the.- headquarters of the society, London, in regard'td proposed examination concessions iri remote districts. The opinion of. the' Central Executive Committee was that under, special circumstances, and with the.sanction of the council, the lecturer should be 'permitted to examine his class orally, but the written paper should be prepared by someone appointed by, the council, and sent under seal .to the lecturer, who should, .return, the written answers, together with his own report on the oral portion to the examining doctor, who would afterwards make his return to the council." • 1 It was considered that this system, would be suitable for application to New Zealand. The Christchurch Centre forwarded a 'copy of a letter which had- been sent to the Prime Minister concerning the instruction of girls in nursing duties. The letter stated that an agreement had been arrived at between the Imperial War Office and the St. John Ambulance Association by which the association was to carry out v the training of girls in probationary nursing in England. The Christchurch Centre had been assured by the Defence Department that only certificates issued by the. association would be recognised, in connection with the formation of a reserve,, auxiliary to the field ambulances of the New Zealand Defence forces, should such a reserve be at any time established. Therefore, if the Government had any scheme in regard to ambulance training in schools, or in the interregnum between, leaving school and taking up household duties the council requested that the Government should place the matter,of such instruction under the jurisdiction of the association. . The Christchurch Committee, in forwarding this letter, asked for an expression of. opinion by. the Wellington Centre. The chairman, the secretary, and Mr. Fisher were appointed a committee to consider the matter. The ohairman: It's' a'big thing, but I think ifs in the right direction. ' Mr. H. H. Seed, district superintendent, was appointed assistant-commissioner for the Wellington district The Christchurch Centre wrote inviting delegates to attend a conference of delegates from the four main centres 'to be held in Christchurch this month. The foEowiue subjects, among others, were suggested for the consideration of the conference :—(l) The adoption of a uniform, policy of governance and of uniform regulations, methods, and equipment ■ throughout the Dominion; (2) combined action to secure that the nursing work suggested by the Government should bo undertaken by the" association/ with the aid of Government subsidies; (3) combined ~ action. ,to . ameliorate., the present severe conditions in. respect. to fees;. (4) combined action -to obtain an annual subsidy from the Government.' The chairman, secretary, and Mr. Fisher, were appointed delegates 'to ' the conference.