VALUABLE WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 146, 22 June 1934, Page 11

VALUABLE WORK

ST. JOHN. AMBULANCE

ACTIVITIES REVIEWED

The annual meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association was held last night. . ..:.■'■ '

The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), who presided, said that the society during the past year had, under very great difficulties, succeeded in carrying on its beneficent activities to a degree which, equalled that of recent years. Up to some [three years ago such organisations in a great degree relied on the public purse in one form or another. Then came a time when such sources of help became insufficient to meet requirements. That was a testing time, and: almost without exception the organisations showed that they could cope with the position. Last year and this year the St. John Ambulance Association had relied upon the efforts of its own members in carrying on its work. It was to bo hoped that the sports, municipal, and other bodies to which the association had rendered service would increase in some measure the assistance they had given iii the past. STEADY PKOGEESS MADE. Dr. J. S. Elliott thought those present would agree with him that the annual report showed steady progress throughout the year. In fact, lie thought he- might go further and say that he knew of no previous year in which so much material growth had been made. The Wellington district extended from Napier in the north to the South Island and included Nelson and Marlborough. Through the personal efforts of the secretary, the sub-centres were all in a very active state, and were doing splendid work in their respective districts. The Hutt Valley was to bo organised into a sub-centre. During the past year the hall in Wellington was opened, and had been a centre- of great activity. Nearly 800 men and women had been instructed in first-aid during the year, and it was gratifying to state that the great majority of the students had joined the brigade. The object of the association was chiefly instruction, and the work was then carried on by those who had been instructed—work on the football grounds and in various places where accidents were likely to occur. . . . It- had- become obvious, said Dr. Elliott/ that it was impossible to raise funds for two or three different bodies who were all doing a share of ambulance work, and during the year it had become the practice that money should be raised through the association, with the help of the brigade,1 and should be equitably divided between the two complementary organisations. Some people were apt to despise, or possibly condemn, first-aid work. That was due to a misapprehension. The first principle laid down and reiterated was what not to do rather than what to" do, although there was a good deal of positive instruction. The amount of work that brigade members did on ; Saturdays,/ Sundays, and holidays was very great; in fact, he knew of no public service that was more disinterested and self-sacrificing. During the past few years^ the standard of attainment required by the society's examinations had been made very high comparatively. The society did not want to make itself popular and let people through with merely' nominal •' knowledge. Dr. Elliott said that the rela)tions between the New , Zealand Bed Cross in Wellington and'the St. John Ambulance Association were those of cordial co-operation. The association also co-operated^ with 'the ■■■Fre'e;"Amßu'lance in Wellington: No body, he said, could be better served by its general committee and executive of enthusiastic and public-spirited- members, and a similar remark could Be. made with respect to the sub-centres throughout the district. He expressed appreciation of the work of the Nursing Guild. Mr. F. Ward, assistant commissioner, paid a tribute to the work of the association in extending its activities during the year. - Colonel J. J. Esson congratulated the centre on its successful year. . Mr. J. Prendeville, chairman of the management committee of the Wellington Eugby Football Union, expressed appreciation of the work, of members of the St. John Ambulance Association in rendering aid on the football fields. FIRST-AID CERTIFICATES. First-aid certificates, were presented to the followingsuecessfulcandidates:— Betty Froggatt, Irene Knapp, Joan Dutton, Barbaia^Linburgh, 'Flora, McDonald, Claude Swift,! Cyril Edward Dillbhj Charles Christison, Annie Euth Smith, Ellen Ford, Audrey Tanner, Valma Bush, Sylvia Thompson, Charles E. Clifford, William James Andrews^ John Hood, Katie Gay, Doris A. Ibbotson, Violet Thomas, Mary; O'Connell, Joyce Luff, James Lyall, David Gardner. ' ' ■ ■"■' ■ " -'. / : City traffic officers: Charles Hood, Percy 0. G-.. Mills, Horace V. Branigan, Eichard Collins, Thomas Broughton, John George Baillie, Harold Bedding, William MeKeen. . ■" *: Police constables: John Ellis, Leonard Alfred Satherley, Donald Boss, Bobert Gardner, ■ Frank Thomson, Eichard Byrne, William Lowis, James Meikle. i The following officers were elected:— President, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop); vice-presidents, Archbishop Eedwood, Bishop! Sprott, Lady Luke, Canon Percival James, Eev. J. E. Blanchard, Mrs. J. K. Preston, Mrs. M. E. L. Stace, Mrs. W. J. Helyer; general committee, Dr. J. S. Elliott, Mts. C. B. Gaby, Mrs. E. M. Osborn, Miss H. McKhight, Mr. W. W. Dutton, Mr. J. W. Jack, Dr. H. E. Gibbs, Mr. W. G. Wohlmann, 1.5.0., Mrs. S. J. Harrison, Mr. F. Campbell, Mr. H. A. H. Huggins, Mr. Dudley Tripe, Mr. Frank Kennedy, Dr. C. G. Morice, Canon J. H.,Sykes; honorary treasurer, Mr. H. A. H. Huggins; auditors, JameS Kellow and Son, F.P.A.NIZ.; honorary solicitors, Messrs. Perry, Perry, and Popo.

Musical items were contributed by Miss Moana Goodwill, Miss Eunice Berriasconi, Mrs. E. G. Caigou accompanying at the jiiano.