ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Evening Star, Issue 26038, 28 February 1947, Page 9

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

FINANCIAL SUPPORT NEEDED VALUABLE WORK FOR YEAR The need of the St. John Ambulance Association for increased monetary support was referred to by the president, Mr H. L. Paterson, at the annual meeting of the Otago Centre of the association last night, Although much valuable work had been done, it was; increasingly evident that the association .could, not carry, .on without the support of the local bodies, he said, when' moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. During the year the Otago Hospital Board’s grant of £1,400 had been cut down to £875, Mr Paterson added, and at the same time the wages of the drivers had been raised by nearly £7OO. The association could, not extend its services unless monetary'-support was' forthcoming, added Mr Paterson. That the association was already doing a big job in the community was shown ''bythe Ambulance Transport Service figures for the year. In 1945, 2,916 calls had been made, but last year 3,422 calls, an increase of nearly 20 per cent., had been answered. Ample evidence of the association’s efforts in teaching first aid was given by the figures for the number of certificates issued. The following office-bearers were elected —Patrons—The Mayor, Mr D. C. Cameron, Messrs _S. Saltzman, and T. Somerville; president, Mr li. L. Paterson; vice-presidents—Dr A.. It. Falconer, Messrs A. McHutchon, and 11. Harris; secretary, Miss A. N, Buchan; committee—Mesdames A. A, Fairbairn and D. Tan nock; Messrs N. Speight, E. Griffin, and R. A. Fisher, Dr.M, Blain (Otago Hospital Board), Mrs S. G. McDonald (Trained Nurses’ Association), Dr It. Fulton (8.M.A.), Mrs W. Ewing (St. John Women’s War Committee), Mesdames V. C. Pottinger and R. W. Sutherland, Messrs \. G. A. Swanson. T. H. Mulholland, L. V. Stewart, and S. Lyon (St. John Ambulance Brigade).