LICENSE FOR AMBULANCE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 June 1935, Page 6

LICENSE FOR AMBULANCE

USE OUTSIDE HAWERA DISTRICT ACTUALLY NO LIAIIT lAIPOSED Advice that there Avas actually- no limit to the field of operation of the ambulance if part of the Avas begun, ended in, or even passed through the HaAvera Hospital Board’s district, was received at a meeting of the board' this morning from the Hospital Boards’ Association of Ncav Zealand.

The letter was received following an opinion expressed at the last meeting of the board that the Transport Board was exercising its powers beyond reason, when it was found necessary to include ambulances within its licensing jurisdiction. A license had been granted which confined the use of the ambulance and the association was asked to take up the matter with tlie Transport Board with a view to securing total exemption for the Hawera ambulance. It was explained that the assistance of the association had been secured, as it had appeared that should the hospital receive a call to a serious accident outside the district .permission would first have to be obtained before the ambulance could proceed to the locality-. Valuable time would be lost and would undoubtedly lead to a public outcry against the board for what would be considered lack of efficiency. The association pointed out that the Transport Act had been amended and regulations framed to prevent certain unauthorised persons operating so-called free ambulance services and collecting subscriptions from the public. The secretary-, Air C. Harrison, reported that as the result of an inquiry from the No. 5 District Licensing Authority he had forwarded information that it was difficult to state exactly the additional area required to cover in cases of emergency-. The ambulance had been, called to cases in the Taranaki, Stratford and Patea hospital districts and there were occasions when the ambulance was despatched to Wanganui or even Wellington with cases. He had suggested that as there was apparently no limit to the field of operation if part of the journey- was begun in, ended or passed through, the district, the wording of the license could be made accordingly. No reply- had yet been received to this letter.

The matter was briefly discussed, Air Harrison remarking that an inspection had been made by the licensing inspector, who told him that if the ambulance was seen outside the district a report would be submitted to the authority. He was not certain, but there might be a prosecution, said the inspector.