WANTED-A HOME

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 15, 17 July 1918, Page 3

WANTED-A HOME

FOR ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING.

Something like Arctic weather did not greatly affect the attendance at the annual meeting of the' Wellington Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association held at the Concert Chamber last night. Surgeon-General Henderson (DirectorGeneral of Medical Services) presided, and was accompanied on the platform by Mr. G. A. Troup (Chairman of Committee), -and if number of the members of the centre. The proceedings opened with the National Anthem, played by Miss Clachan, who also contributed a piano solo.

In his opening address the. chairman said the members of the association were the living representatives of one of the most ancient and illustrious Orders formed for the promotion of religion, valour, and humanity. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem was founded as far back as 1048 by certain pious merchants from Amain and Naples, in Palestine, and in 1113. the Association was raised by the Pope to the dignity of an Order. Its first aim was the tending of the sick and the burial of the dead, and for centuries it stood up as the bulwark of Christendom against the attacks of the Mohammedans and Saracens. In the course of time it took on a-more militant character. In 1827 it established its headquarters in England at St. Johns, Clerkenwell, where it had remained ever since, whence it had carried out work of the greatest importance- both in times of peace and war. As to tho present position, he said it was only natural that the number of ambulance men should be on tho decline, owing to the number of men who had gone to the front, and to the scarcity of doctors. However, he hoped' they would carry on, especially after the war. It was a. tremendous advantage to. women-to be- acquainted with first aid and home nursing, especially for those in country districts and the backblocks, where doctors were very difficult to get hold of. It was a- great pleasure to him to see that the Boy Scouts were taking such a keen interest in the work, and the smart work they were doing. (Applause.) The Secretary. (Mr. J. B. Findlay) read messages of apology for unavoidable absence from His Excellency the Governor-General, Mrs. J. P. Luke, Dr. Arthur (vice-president, who has been laid aside through illness), and the hon. treasurer (Mr; C. P. Powles).

The Chairman remarked at this stage how pleased he had been at the exhibition given by the ladies of St. John Ambulance Association at Newtown Park some' weeks ago. It showed what keenness they had in their work, and how.well they had picked it up. (Applause.) I

In moving the adoption of the annual report (a precis of which was published last night), Mr. G. A. Troup said that tho men and women who carried out the objects of the association wern doing work which was aliruistic in the truest sense. They had no selfish purpose to serve; they were doing it for the good of the public. It was a permanent body,' the parent of all similar associations, including the Red Cross, and he exprftssed regret that the association had no home in which to house itself and its family. The association had been too modest in the past; it had not stressed its claims sufficiently on tho public of Wellington, and he thought the committee had fully made up its mind that that difficulty was to be remedied for the future. Their slogan for the- coming .■ year would be "A Home." They needed a home, in which their family could be gathered together, and by means of which they would feel that they had family interests, not only working individually, but as a family, collectively. He was sure that 6uch a home would do more for the association than anything else they could possibly think of at tho present time. He felt that if they approached the public of Wellington the public would eupport them. They had £1300- in hand for such a purpose, but it would need about £5000. He was sure the public of Wellington could spare that amount for such a purpose, and he hoped that at the next annual meeting they would be able to announce that they had sufficient money .in hand to carry put the work, I Applause.) The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted by acclamation.

The election of officers resulted as under :— Vice-presidents, his Grace Archbishop Redwood, Bishop Sprott, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Luke, Rev. J. Paterson, Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, Dr. S. Harcourt Arthur, and Mr. C. P. Powles; committee, Messrs. W. Allan. H. H. Seed, G. A. Troup, W< Cox, G. A. AyBon, F. M. Rentier, and Brownrigg, .Mesdames G. W. Barltrop, H. W. Preston, A. H. Waters, and J. R. Gibbons, Misses J. Robertson, A. D. Rennie, Helyor, and Robieson.

Amid applause, the chairman presented/a long-servico medal to Mr. H. H. Seed, who assisted in the formation of the Wellington branch in January, 1900, and was one of the foundation members of the Wellington Division. Interesting demonstrations were given by members of the Nursing and Ambulance Division of the brigade, and by the Boy Scouts, tho Chairman expressing great satisfaction with the manner in which the work was carried out.

During the evening a recitation was given by Mr. Culford Bell, a song by the brigade members, and contributions by Miss Agnes Segrief, L.A.8., and Mr. H. F. Wood. Votes of.thanks to all who had assisted completed, a. very pleasant programme, and the proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem.