FREE AMBULANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 10

FREE AMBULANCE

COMPARED WITH CITY SCHEME /

LESS COSTLY, MORE EFFICIENT

While speaking to a "Post" reporter to-day about the proposed free ambulancesystem for Wellington, the Mayor, Mr. C. B. Norwood, referred to a report made to him by the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr. L. S. Drake). That report, said Mr. Nr^.vood, made it clear that as compared -with- the "city ambulance," that was, an ambulance maintained by the Corporation, a service built upon the Newcastle system would undoubtedly give greater efficiency, and would also be a very much better investment from the city's point of view from an economic standpoint.

Mr. Norwood added that the proposal was meeting with very encouraging support from neighbouring Ideal bodies.. The Harbour Board had been most generous in its.donation of k. 250, and offer to hand over its :present machine anit to contribute annually a sum equivalent to the cost to the board, ofmaintaining its ambulance, providing it were, shown that the new service was efficient and' satisfactory in rendering service in cases of waterfront accidents. The Hutt County Council had advised him that the question 'of a contribution would be considered when the ■ estimates for 1927-28 were being framed, and the Eastbourne Borough Council had promised that, unless legal difficulties stood in the way, it would contribute towards the: scheme. TRAFFIC OFFICER'^ REPORT. "The city-owned service," Mr. Drake reported, '.'would be available for street accidents or accidents of similar nature, aiid not for the conveyance of sick persons from residence to hospitals, etc., as would be the proposed free ambulance. "We have no accommodation for the housing of such a vehicle in' the centre of the eity 2 the garage at the Corporation yard not being, large enough ' to house the existing plant. This position is central, and an addition might be built to the garage, to house an ambulance. This would enable the vehicle to be stored alongside constant telephone communication, the petrol stores, and worKshops, so that cleaning and repair work would be always available. "The question of staff to be available at any hour, day or night, requires consideration. In many instances two men would ' be required to handle a stretcher case. These men would have to be conversant with ambulance work and able to render first-aid. . . . An arrangement might be arrived at whereby .the driver could call at the nearest police station and pick up a constable as second man. "If. this could be done four men would be required, three to work eight-hour shifts, and one as relief for week-ends, etc. "I have made inquiries as to the co_st of a high-grade machine of English manufacture, cost of addition to garage for housing same, and operating costs, as follows:—

If two of the garage attendants were _ given ambulance and first-aid training, a reduction in the wages could be made for day work, but not for night duty, but I suggest that a service such as this should be carired out fully or not at all, as a makeshift would be worse than none.''

Ambulance, complete ..... 900 0 0 Garage , 250 0 0 Four attendants' wages, per _ year 956 16 0 Petrol (one gallon per day) 28 17 11 Oil and sundries .''. 8 0 0 Insurance 20 0 0 Licenses and registration 5 0,0 Depreciation per year .... 90 0 0 Tires and repairs 40 0 0 Total for first year £2298 13 11