ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 6

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

EXAMINATION RESULTS The following candidates were successful in passing the first aid examination held at headquarters, Moray place, on May 20: — First Aid.—Barker, E.; Beveridge, B.; Kirk, M, B.; Kerr, M.; M'Pherson, M.; Peters, A. J.; Pridham, G. A.; Ritchie, P.; Ramsay, M.; Thompson, N.; Pearce, G. F.; Smith, T. A.: Smith. S. H. Medallion.—Mason, C. R. Dr N. Speight conducted tho examination. Minister it was essential that the evidence should be correct, as it would be reviewed by the Minister. Mr Fagan stressed tho importance of the transport problem in the world today, and drew attention to the dangers existing on tho roads. In Great Britain 155 persons were killed a iveek and 5,000 were maimed. If tho present average were continued for the next two years tho tots! accidents, fatal and otherwise, would equal the British loss of life in tho Great War. It was held generally that the primary cause of motor accidents was chaotic conditions and a complete lack of control. Mr Fagan said it had been stated that the railways could not compete with the road services, but lie maintained that if the road services worked under the same conditions as the railways did in respect to rates of pay, hours of work, and other conditions, and rail cars_ were used and the railways modernised, as it was intended they should be, then the railway services would more than hold their own.

Mr Masters agreed that there should be no sweating of drivers. In New Zealand, he said, the greater proportion of truck drivers were owner-drivers. There were very few accidents in New Zealand as far as the public passenger services were concerned. The object of the Government, he stated, was to bring about the socialisation of the me,ans of transport. Hon. T. F. Doyle urged that there should he greater penalties against intoxicated drivers. Ho was confident that the Government would not crucify the road operators. He could not see a great deal against the socialisation of the services. The main thing was to see that the best services were rendered at the lowest cost.

Hon. M. Connelly said it was not new to grant protection to the railways. There was a place for railway transport and for the motor tranpsort system. In his willingness to hear appeals tho Minister was showing courage and his readiness to accept responsibility. Hon. J. M‘Leod said he did not think it reasonable that a private owner should he excluded from increasing his business while his -competitor in the form of the rail car would extend the railway service as business extended. He did not agree with the ridiculous price-cutting indulged iu by the Railway Department to meet sea-borne competition. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose at 5 p.m. till 11 a.m. tomorrow.