CHANGE OBSERVED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 22, 27 January 1936, Page 8

CHANGE OBSERVED

DOMINION'S ADVANCE

VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS

After an absence of fourteen years from the Dominion Colonel J. L. Sleeman, C.8., C.M.G., C.8.E., M.V.0., who has just completed a tour of the South Island, commented on the advance made in all centres when interviewed today. He declared that he had always had a warm .regard for New Zealand and, although he had visited a large number of countries since serving through the war years here, he was more than ever determined to spend as much time as possible here. In the course of his visitation as the personal representative of the Grand Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G.), Colonel Sleeman visited all of the main centres in the South Island.

"I have been considerably impressed by the progress that has been made in so many directions," he said. "Since I was here last there has been a particular advance in roading, accommodation, and building generally. Throughout my tour the splendid work that is being done by the men and women engaged in ambulance work recalled to my memory the same splendid spirit which was evident when I was training New Zealanders for the defence of the nation. One of the most delightful things about my tour has been the large number of meetings with former comrades of all ranks, some of them travelling long distances to meet me again. The officers' clubs in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington, an- 1, the R.S.A. did all they could for me and. I am very grateful for their friendly recognition." AIR TRANSPORT. Another thing that was noteworthy in New Zealand, said Colonel Sleeman, was the advance in air transport. He had used the services operating in the northern part of the South Island and had found them excellent. The machines were both comfortable and safe and admirably served. By flying from Christchurch to Blenheim and later to Nelson, and from there to Wellington, he had been able to do as' much in forty-eight hours as he would otherwise aave done in a week. Particular interest attached to his flying because it brought him into touch with two old friends. His first pilot was trained by him in military affairs and another pilot had been passed by him for his first flying certificate. Commenting on St. John Ambulance work, Colonel Sleeman said that the units he had inspected in the South Island had delighted him. They could not have reached a higher standard and he was greatly impressed by the fact that even young cadets possessed sufficient knowledge of first-aid to be able to save human life if necessary. "In certain respects New Zealand leads the rest of the Empire overseas," he said. "Especially in the strength of the cadet work and in forming the first men's and the second women's divisions overseas. The fire brigade ambulance service in Dunedin, which is done under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, is, in my opinion, ideal because it gets the maximum of efficiency for the minimum of cost." SAVING LIVES. It was not always recognised, the Colonel added,-that the ambulance workers in New Zealand annually saved many lives and helped to reduce the cost of hospitals and nursing homes by giving.accident cases expert treatment that shortened the term of •nursing required. Rapid and efficient first-aid meant the checking of the loss of strength and the minimising of shock. If, by proper care, a man was able to recover' from an injury quickly, while another was weakened and had his recovery delayed for want of that care, it was obvious that the efforts of ambulance workers were of financial value to the country. This factor could be better appreciated, for at the present time the activities of the ambulance workers, which involved the loss of time and frequently financial loss, were taken too much for granted. In some instances ambulance workers had been told that they should not mind doing the work in their spare time as they were paid for it. That was entirely incorrect as, instead of being paid, the St. John workers frequently had to spend their own money as well as their spare time, some of them even buying their own uniforms. NEW ZEALAND PRESS. "I do not wish to be accused of flattery, neither have I any object to obtain, but I would like to express my appreciation of the New Zealand Press," said Colonel Sleeman in conclusion. "Since, I left the Dominion fourteen years ago I have visited most of the countries in the world, and I am quite convinced that no more accurate, well-written, or honest Press exists than that of New Zealand. Indeed it is most pleasing to read newspapers in which the news is so accurately reported, and the major points of interest so excellently brought out." • • ■