SEEKING ASSISTANCE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1922, Page 3

SEEKING ASSISTANCE

PETONE AMBULANCE .VAN

COMMITTEE.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs. W. B. Gough, L. C. Wray, R. J. Cruicksh'ank, and C. Manning, representing the Petone Ambulance Van Committee, waited ; ori the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening for the purpose of seeking financial assistance and support from the council and residents of the borough. •( Mr. Gough, who led the deputation, said that in 1920 a Daimler Ambulance, used during the war, was procured from the. Government and thoroughly overhauled. Since the motor-van had, been on the road they, had removed 256 sick and injured people to the Hospital. They had had difficulty in providing a capable driver, the casual assistance in this direction having caused a great deal of expense for repairs. .They had now appointed a permanent, driver at a regular salary. Out of their nest-egg |n 1920 of £300 they had spent £150 in this direction and for repairs. They had now to look further afield for monetary assistance. Another they had to contend with was that sick' people usually-found-difficulty in paying". The committee was a voluntary body, which attempted to help people in their hour of difficulty. Tlie Hospital Board only had two vans to serve a very extensive district, and it was often manifestly impossible for these vans to cover the wide area,they were required to do without such assistance as outlying vans were able to give. They would like the Eastbourne Council to give them some assistance. The cha-ge to remove Eastbourne patients to. the Hospital was £2' 10s. They had tried to do it for 30s, but had found that suni too little. They had over. £100 outstanding over the whole, district, including Petone and Hutt. -_No local authority had made them donations so far, their only assistance coming from tho Hospital Board. Mr. Wray stated that the Lower Hutt district also had had .ah ambulance, but it 'was unable to run it, and had now fallen back on the Petone van. One trip had cost £80 in repairs alono as the result, of an inexperienced driver. Replying, 'tho" Mayor said that it seemed to him _that the committee was carrying out w_rk deserving of support, but he did not see that the council coulfl make a direct contribution.' 'The ferry service made it possible to get patients into town, very quickly. The council would attempt to. evolve some means of assisting the Ambulance Committee, and it might be possible to compel the local bodies to contribute to the expenses through the Hospital Board. At present Eastbourne was contributing £360 per annum for hospital facilities, a fairly large amount for a small borough. "There i»ero not many sick people in the East Harbour district. It was mostly a place .where people- came to get well after sickness. Tho council would, however, consider the matter further,, and the deputation could rest' assured whatever was possible in the wavof assistance would bo rendered.