THE OTAKI SEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 93, 20 April 1935, Page 5

THE OTAKI SEAT

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

OTAKI, This Day,

It- is probable that Mr. G. Alex. Monk will contest the Otaki seat at the next Parliamentary elections.

ST.. JOHN AMBULANCES

LICENSING FEES

"In future it will be necessary for all motor' ambulance vehicles to operate under a licence and to obtain a certificate of fitness. Because of the special nature of the work of ambulances, the transport authorities have made liberal concessions," runs a statement issued by the Commandery in New Zealand of the Grand Priory in the British Realm of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, in connection with the discussion at Thursday's meeting of the Wellington District Free Ambulance Board on the taxation of ambulances. "Instead of each of the forty-five hospital boards paying £5 for a licence, and £3 for each certificate of fitness, they will be able to take advantage of the offer of the . Commandery and need not pay anything towards the cost of the licence, as the Commandery will defray the amount charged them by the Department, which will only amount to £.8 for the whole of the Dominion. . .. „ "Each vehicle will have to pay an annual fee of £1 for a certificate of fitness which would be borne by St. John where they are operating, the vehicles,; jind. by the .hospital board or other organisation where it ■ operated the vehicles. • "These fees seem very reasonable for the services rendered by the Transport Board. The licence fee does not fully pay for the advertisements, arid the advantage of inspection and report from time to time on. the fitness of vehicles conveying the< sick and . injured and having to travel at a maximum speed over all classes of road is obvious. , ' / "In addition to the certificate of fitness of vehicles, steps are being taken to arrange a conference of all bodies interested in ambulance transport in order that there should be a standardisation of equipment. For instance, the stretchers used by the. hospital, military, railways aero clubs, marine, Red Cross' Society, Free Ambulance, and St. John should all be interchangeable. In the event of a national disaster these bodies should act as one unit.. ..'."■■ "The Commandery of St. John, which, operates ambulances from seventeen different towns, has been granted... licences in the Auckland. Canterbury, Westland, Otago, and Southland districts." ' ]