FREE AMBULANCE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 225, 19 June 1931, Page 8

FREE AMBULANCE

City Council Withdraws * Its Grant “A SERIOUS POSITION” No little concern was expressed at the meeting of the executive of the Wellington Free Ambulance yesterday on reeelpt of an intimation from the town clerk that the City Council haa decided not to oppose the Empowering Bill regarding local body grants to the ambulance, but that, owing to the financial stringency, the council would not be able to’ make a contribution during the present year. The Wellington Hospital Board and the Wellington Harbour Board both wrote approving of the Bill giving them power to contribute up to £9OO and £3OO respectively, and the Upper Hutt Borough Council advised that a grant of £lOO would be made subject to the passing of the BillMr. G. Mitchell, who presided, said that the Intimation from the City Council opened up a serious position. The council had placed £15,000 on the estimates this year as a contribution to the Fire Board, to guard against wreckage from fires, and yet it now withdrew its contribution from the Free Ambulance, which dealt with the wreckage of human lives after accidents. Surely it was the council’s duty to give the service the Free Ambulance was now providing for the citizens of Wellington. The city received some thousands of pounds each year as licenses for motor vehicles, and half the work of the ambulance was in attending to accidents caused by motor traffic. It seemed wrong that all the local bodies round the city, who wete feeling the slump just as much, should recognise their responsibilities to the Free Ambulance, while the City Council should withdraw its contribution altogether. He moved that a deputation, consisting of Messrs. H. M. Jones. J. H. Whittaker, A. J. McCurdy, and himself, should wait upon the finance committee of the City Council on Monday night, and endeavour to get the council to make a grant to the ambulance. Mr. D. J. McGowan, in seconding the motion, said that to his mind the action of the City Council was quite unreasonable. Mr. H. M. Jones said that individual firms and employees had loyally supported the'Free Ambulance, and if the City Council refused to contribute it would simply mean that these citizens and other local bodies would have to pav for the transport of the city’s accident cases. Whoever pulled out, the Free Ambulance would continue. The chairman: If we do have to close down, the whole of the eost of nroviding transport for accident cases will fall upon the City Council. Mr. J. H. Whittaker and Mr. S. F. Fisher, Mayor of Eastbourne, both expressed astonishment at the City Council’s action. Mr. A. J. McCurdy, Mayor of Upper Hutt, said that local bodies last year had contributed £2300 toward the upkeep of the ambulance, of which the City Council’s share was 5 23rds. The transports for last month showed 11-13ths for the city, and 2-13ths for other local body districts. This meant that the city paid 5-23rds of the contributions, and obtained 11-13ths of the ambulance service, while all other contributors provided 18-23rds of the subscriptions, and got 2-13ths of the transports. The motion to send the deputation to the finance committee of the City Council was carried unanimously. ' CASES TOTAL 23,486 Service Busy Since Inception The Free Ambulance’s cars have travelled 241,792 miles, and attended 23,486 cases since the inception of the service on November 9, 1927, according to a report submitted by the superintendent, Mr. F. Roffe, to the monthly meeting of the executive yesterday. In the absence of the president, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, Mr. G. Mitchell was voted to the chair, and others present were Messrs. B. A. Ginger, J. W. Jack, A. J. McCurdy, S. F. Fisher, D. J. McGowan, 11. M. Jones, and J. H. Whittaker. The superintendent reported that 664 cases, including 99 accident cases, had been attended during last month, as against 606 for the corresponding month last year; 546 patients had been carried, and the cars had travelled 5991 miles. Mr. H. M. Jones was elected an associate member of the executive. The financial statement showed that there was a credit balance of £571/14/-. Among the contributions acknowledged were £25 from the Paekakariki benefit committee. £lO/10/- from the Otaki Maori Racing Club, £4/7/- from Wellington Master Painters’ Union, £2/2/- from the Victoria Laundry, £5 from the Glide Skating Rink, and £l3/14/- from the Seatoun Croquet Club. The following sub-committees were elected: — Finance: Messrs. C. J. B. Norwood, C. M. Luke, D. J. McGowan, J. W. Jack, G. Mitchell, and M. Marks. Building: Messrs. C. J. B. Norwood, B A. Ginger, S. F. Fisher, G. Mitchell, J. H. Whittaker, H. M. Jones, and J. W. Jack.