" READY ALWAYS "

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1930, Page 10

" READY ALWAYS "

CITY AMBULANCE

TRIBUTES TO SERVICE

General gratification at the progress of tho movement was expressed at the second annual meeting of the subscribers to the New Zealand Free Ambulance Transport Service (Wellington district), last night. The DeputyMayor (Councillor M. F. Luckie) presided over a representative attendance.

In apologising for the absence of tho Mayor, Mr. Luckie said that he felt very diffident'in presiding over a moeting of people who had been far more closely -connected than himself with one of the most important undertakings in the city of recent years. He paid a tributo to the president of the board (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood), without whose efforts he doubted if the Ambulance would have been brought into existence. Eeferring to the annual report and balance-sheet, Mr. Luckie said'that they in themselves were the finest advertisement of the initiative/ energy, and ability put into the movement by those connected with it. The Ambulance was one of the soundest benevolent institutions that had ever been started in this country. There was no undertaking in New Zealand to equal it. In conclusion, Mr. Luckie said that nothing would over have been done in connection with the Free Ambulance had it not been for the energy and initiative displayed by Mr. Norwood. On behalf of the citizens of Wellington, he thanked the officers, particularly Mr. Roffe, for the splendid work they were doing. A DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. In moving tho adoption of the annual report, portions of which have already been published in "The Post," Mr. Norwood said that he did not know of any body whose affairs were so cavefully worked out and whose objective was so definite as that of the Ambulance. This was in no small measure due to the committee, which was one of the most democratic in existence, containing as it did representatives of every party and creed. Mr. Norwood paid a tribute to the work of the ladies' auxiliary and the staff, who, ho said, were not only' doing their duty but were doing just a little bit more than that. Over 5000 hours' free service had been given by the members of the St. John Ambulance. "The Free Ambulance is doing a service to the city which could not possibly bo rendered by the Hospital Board," saia Mr. C M. Luke in seconding the motion. NEW ZEALAND BOARD. Mr. M. Marks said that it was the Ambulance Board's great desiro that it should be a Dominion board, and they hoped that the Government would at some time put the board on such a footing that the Wellington Ambulance would be merely a branch of a New Zealand Ambulance. ' a Mr. 0. H. Chapman and Mr. A. J. M'Curdy also spoke to the motion. Mr. H. M. Jones, in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, said that in 'its two years of operation the Ambulance had built up a goodwill, the value of which 'it was not possible to estimate. The efficiency of the brigade was as near 100 per cent, as it was possible to get under.the present conditions. ' . The report and balance-sheet were adopted. :