WELLINGTON CITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 10

WELLINGTON CITY

SUGGESTED OVERHAUL

'MANY KEY MEN DEAD'

FREE AMBULANCE BOARD

DISCUSSION

The suggestion that in view of present world conditions the emergency precautions scheme for Wellington should be overhauled and those likely to take part in it should be notified of and instructed in their duties was advanced by * members of the Wellington District Free Ambulance Board at the monthly meeting today. The chairman (Sir Charles Norwood) said j that there was already in existence an emergency organisation aimed at dealing with a disaster or the outbreak of a serious epidemic in Wellington, but another speaker said that many of the men appointed to key positions under that scheme were dead and that others had never been instructed in their duties. After a discussion it was decided to request the chairman to discuss the subject with the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop). Some speakers stressed their desire to avoid anything that would create a scare, but one member said it was time the public were awakened to the seriousness of the position. The discussion was initiated by Dr. C. G. F. Morice, who suggested that the Free Ambulance should join with the St. John Ambulance Association in approaching the City Council to see what was being done. "A meeting of the St. John Ambulance was held yesterday and a copy of the scheme was there, but no one knows anything about it," he said. "The question is whether the matter should be ventilated. We don't want to make a scare about it." FILLING KEY POSITIONS. "The important principle is to appoint the key individuals who would be responsible for bringing about the complete organisation in the event of a crisis," said the chairman. "You are aware, of course, of the committee formed to act in the event of a plague or earthquake. The Free Ambulance has its definite place in that organisation. We could find out from the Mayor to what extent that has been followed up and whether he feels it his duty as the Chief Citizen to call a meeting of that body—privately, of course. I don't think we should create any scare. The organisation should be brushed up. One sees that in England certain individuals have been appointed to take charge of various districts should trouble arise. L presume you are asking that that should be done here on a smaller scale. "I can't agree with what has been said. I think it would do the people a bit of good to 'get a little wind up,'" said Mr. R. W. Bothamley. "We should make our people prepared. We have one volunteer to every eight square miles of territory and the public should be made to realise the position. "As far as the Wellington corps of the St. John Ambulance is concerned we have our stations mapped out," said Mr. W. Dutton. "The organisation referred to by the chairman arose out of the Napier earthquake," said Dr. Morice, "but I think a number of people don't know much about it. I read my name in the paper as being in charge of the depot at Parliamentary Buildings, but I don't know anything about it. Many of the people who were similarly appointed have since died." The chairman said he would interview the Mayor and discuss the advisability of overhauling the organisation.