FREE AMBULANCE

Evening Post, Issue 154, 1 July 1936, Page 14

FREE AMBULANCE

SUBSCRIBERS MEET

APPRECIATED SERVICE

A STRENUOUS YEAR

The eighth annual meeting of Free Ambulance subscribers was held last night, the president, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, occupying the chair.

In moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman said that the year had been a very busy one for the service. It had worked most efficiently, but had faced a very heavy demand. The staff had performed an extraordinary public function during the past eight years, having travelled more than 025,000. miles and dealt with more than 65,000 cases. The service was now working so efficiently that the ambulance cars went by almost without being noticed. The stafF and the superintendent had been a very happy family, and it was very gratifying to know and to feel th*c the whole organisation had worked so harmoniously and so enthusiastically. He hoped the ambulance men would be exalted in the mind of the public as befitted men whose whole life was devoted to relieving pain and suffering.

New Zealand had passed through what was probably the worst depression that had ever affected this country. In spite of this, the public of Wellington had continued its support of the Free Ambulance.

At the present moment it was not known to what extent the legislation recently passed would interfere with the ambulance service. It had been realised at the beginning, eight years 'ago, that the staff could not follow ordinary staff rules. If there was a case of accident, whether it was the dinner hour, or the recreational time of the drivers, not one of the men would hesitate to volunteer his help immediately. Although the schedules showed the men as working more than 48 hours per week, the actual time worked probably did not exceed 40 hours per week. The lowest paid of the men received £5 15s per week, and there were a number of amenities, such as extended; sick leave, which were necessary because the men had to take risks to which ordinary workers were not liable.

If it were necessary to accept an absolute maximum of 40 hours per week, the Free Ambulance might be in a very difficult position. There was a deficit for the present year, and it was possible that this would be increased in the. future. He had been negotiating with the Cabinet Ministers, who were wholeheartedly behind the Free Ambulance, and the Government was willing to do everything possible to assist the service. At the moment, however, the board did not see daylight to the same extent as it had done in past years.

Mr. D. J. McGo.wan, in seconding the motion,, said that ■■ although the year had finished with a deficit, he did not think the loss really affgeted the position very seriously.

He praised the work of the women1:; auxiliary, which had already furnished the Free Ambulance building. Although the auxiliary had done a great deal in the past there was still a lot more that it could do. Next week three new ambulances were being ordered to replace three of those at present in use, and two more would be needed later. He suggested as an aim for the ladies' auxiliary the acquisition of a new ambulance for presentation to the service. s The treasurer (Mr. J. "W. Jack) regretted that the balance had come out on the wrong side, but it was not possible in the circumstances to avoid it. The running expenses per mile amounted to 3.036 d, which was an exceedingly low rate. The average cost of each case was just over Bs, and the average distance run per case was .8.04 miles. The average cost, including all charges, was.a little over ls'j>er mile. The ambulances had to cover a large area, and frequently went out of the "Wellington hospital district. The revenue had increased, but with the additional milage the expenditure had increased still further. The board had ,not forgotten the interests of the staff, and eight months ago it had instituted a superannuation scheme; The cuts had also been partially restored.

In answering a question, Mr. Norwood saia that the public had a wrong | impression about distant trips, such as td Palmerston North and Hastings. The board was always well paid for these trips, though generally by donations, so that it could not be shown in the I usual way in the financial statement, j People had thought that the ambulance had been wrongly used, but the board had investigated every case, and was gratified to find that for every one -who did not make a donation, for a long trip, there were always a number of grateful people who did. It was better to carry one or perhaps two undeserving cases than to refuse to carry one deserving one. Regarding the statement that the board had £8000 in reserves, the president said that it was the policy of the board to have a fund sufficiently large to meet any condition that might arise, I such as the 1918 epidemic or an earth-1 quake. A complete organisation'had. been planned to meet any catastrophe,! but there must be financial assets available. Mr. A. J. McCurdy referred to the contributions of local bodies near Wellington, and urged that these should give a moi;e generous support to the service. Eulogistic reference was made by other speakers to the work of the president and of the ladies' auxiliary. Votes of thanks were passed by acclamation to the board and staff, the honorary auditors (Messrs. Rowley, Gill, Hobbs, and Glen), the hon. treasurer, the honorary staff of bearers, and ■ the ladies' auxiliary.

. Congratulations were extended to 'Sir James Elliott, president of the St. John Ambulance Association."