FULL SUPPORT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4349, 30 October 1950, Page 9

FULL SUPPORT

PAEROA’S AMBULANCE

SCHEME APPROVED

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEW

A request for its support for the proposal to purchase an aihbulance for Paeroa was made to the PJaeroa Chamber of Commerce at its October meeting and it members were invited to attend a public meeting sponsored by the Paeroa Rugby Football Union. The chairman, Mr J. J. Craig, stated that some three years ago the chamber had offered to assist in the campaign to raise money to purchase an ambulance for Paeroa, but the matter had been dropped. Mr N. C. Davies said that it seemed that a new body was now taking the initiative in the matter and the chamber had always been most anxious to secure the ambulance. He thought members should do their utmost to further the project and should attend the meeting and give full support. Mr F. G. Dillon asked what financial support was available for providing drivers who had always to be at call.

Mr J. H. Bartlett replied to the effect that the association would provide the necessary drivers. Mr Edwin Edwards recalled the facts which had led up to the abandonment of the campaign for collecting funds. After the campaign had been started and a sum of about £450 had been collected, the last Govern'ment decided that ambulances would be provided free as part of the benefits ,of Social Security. It had been decided by the Thames Hospital Board that there should be one such ambulance fon Coromandel and one for Paeroa. When it was the law and it had been arranged that an ambulance should be secured for Paeroa without contributions from the people of Paeroa then he was against continuing with the collection of funds. Recently, however, the new Government had come to a different decision and had recently decided that ambulances would not be included as benefits under Social Security. Under such changed circumstances Mr Edwards said he was all in favour of the campaign for funds to purchase an ambulance for Paeroa.

Referring to the question of the maintenance of the ambulance service Mr Edwards said that he did not think that would be a great difficulty for there was every possibility of securing a subsidy from the hospital board, though he could not speak with any certainty upon the matter. He urged all members of the chamber to give the project their full support. The chairman said that it was obvious tfyat the project would have the unqualified support of the chamber.

Free mechanical service for the ambulance and the use of his staff as drivers was offered by 'Mr B. Gwilliam, who was thanked for his generous offer.