GIFT OF AMBULANCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 7, 10 January 1944, Page 6

GIFT OF AMBULANCES

> INDIAN WOMEN OF FIJI

An account of a ceremony at which two ambulances presented by the Indian women of Fiji were recently accepted at Buckingham Palace by the Queen appeared in a recent issue of the "Fiji Herald." The description of the scene was originally given in a 8.8.C. programme by Dr. V. W. T. McGusty, vvho represented Fiji at the presentation ceremony. Dr. McGusty said that thii Indi-an women had worked very hard to achieve their aim, and they had finally raised enough money to buy, not one ambulance as they had intended, but two. When he first arrived in England he was told that it would not be possible to buy an ambulance until at least three months later. Help had, however, been forthcoming from the Joint Supply Mission, and two ambulances which were being built for another purpose were handed over and got ready for presentation. At the ceremony one of those present was Lady Hutson, wife of the Governor, who had received the King and Queen on the occasion of their visit to Fiji as the Duke and Duchess of York. Mr. Oliver Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, introduced the Queen to the -people assembled in the courtyard, where the ambulances were drawn up, and Dr. McGusty, in reply to her Majesty's many questions, explained just how the money had been raised. The Queen was especially gratified at the form which the Indian women's contribution had taken, and was pleased to learn that the ambulances were to be sent overseas almost immediately.