FREE AMBULANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 307, 25 November 1932, Page 10

FREE AMBULANCE.

MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. Major J T. Bosworth presided at a * meeting held last night of subscribers and sympathisers of the 1 almerston North ¥ reo Ambulance Transport Service held to incorporate the sorvico under the Friendly Societies’ Act, and also to receive a progress report and financial statement of the service during tho seven months in which it has been in operation. Apologies for absence were received from Dr. Godfrey, Mr E. Spaiy and Mr R. Clift. REVIEW OF OPERATIONS. The report of tho committee covering the operations of the first seven months, stated that, although launched during this time of great trial to the whole community, sufficient funds, although difficult to obtain, were forthcoming to enable the service to perform a large amount of useful public service and bear out the claims that were made for its value when the scheme was first proposed. After thanking those who have supported the service, and also the Palmerston North division of the St. J olin Ambulance Brigade for providing the honorary staff of the Free Ambulance, the honorary legal advisers (Messrs Gifford M-oore, Ongley and Tremaine), the honorary medical adviser (Dr. Jjoclfrey), the honorary auditor (Mr is. B. Jennings), tho Press and tho ladies committee, the report continues: —“In closely reviewing the work which the Free Ambulance has already done, your committee feels justified in expressing the opinion that tho Free Ambulanco Service is a very essential link in our hospital system, as it makes available the hospital service on equal terms to every one in tho district. The service is by no means confined to Public Hospital work. It is available to- all hospitals, and also for the transport of sick and accident cases to and from their homes, and by reason of its efficient first aid work it has been privileged to give prompt and timely assistance in accident cases, thus affording sufferers the maximum opportunity of recovery. The service has now been in active operation for the past seven months and has attended to 285 cases, 114 <■ of which were accidents and 171 medical transports. Among 'all [these cases, which involved a running of 5,000 miles by the ambulance, ono cannot help hut think that at least some lives have been saved. It is also very gratifying to the committee to be able to state that as the Free Ambulance Service is now firmly established it is definitely here to stay. This achievement is all the more remarkable in view of the opposition which was thrown against the movement at the outset, but the unbounded merit of properly controlled free and efficient ambulance system has again prevailed and another link has been forged in the chain of Free Ambulance Services which will one day extend throughout the

length and breadth of the Dominion, The proposed rules which the committee has drawn up make provision for the service being affiliated with a Wellington Free Ambulance, nnd as soon as our service is incorporated it will virtually become a unit of the New Zealand Free Ambulance Transport Service, the same as the Wellington Free Ambulance is, and tho whole will bo one organisation. Thus will our position bo considerably strengthened in every respect. Tho proposed rules. make provision for all Of tho local bodies and organisations concerned to have a representative each on tho committee, of the service and we trust that this opportunity to take an active part in tho administration of the service will very shortly be availed of by all these bodies. The following figures showing the number of cases attended in various parts of tho district clearly indicate that tho facilities of tho Free Ambulance Service are being availed of by our wide-spread community: City 209, Feilding 11, Levin 9, Otaki 2, Foxton 8, Shannon 4, Rongotea 4, Foxton (motor sports) 7, Halcombe 2, Cheltenham 1, Ashhurst 1, Awahuri 2, Moutoa 1, Bunnythorpe 2 ; Longburn 3, Tokomaru 3, Hnnatangi 1, Manukau 1, Taikorea 1, Tangimoana 3, Rqngiotu 1, Ballanco 1, Pahiatua Track 1. Newbury 2, Milson 3, and 2 cases were removed to Porirua. The work of tho servico is increasing very rapidly and tho time has arrived when a second ambulance will have to be acquired. This is particularly obvious in view of tho fact that the Wellington Free Ambulance has now advised the residents of Otaki that in future they will have to requisition our service to attend to their requirements instead of this work being done by the Wellington Free Ambulance as has been the case so far. Although Otaki is not in the Wellington District, the Wellington Free Ambulance has now attended 47 cases from that Borough. This work in future will fall to our lot as Otaki is in our district.”

The statement of receipts and expenditure for 37 weeks show that the personal subscriptions amounted to £62 6s Id, employees’ contributions £l6 13s, donations from lodges, £l2 3s 3d, benefits £47 12s sd, collection boxes £11.16s 3d, street days (city) £lll 17s Gd, house to house collections £260 los Od, sundries 3s lid; a total of £525 7s lOd. The principal payments were as follow : —Salaries (superintendent-secretary £-15, organiser £SB 8s; lady collectors £69 7s 9d), £l4l los lOd; benzine and oil, £6B 2s-2d; rent, £57 18s; purchase of organising car (deposit and two instalments) £32 14s 4(1. The cash in the bank amounted to £63 12s 6d and in hand to £1 6s lOd.

The chairman explained that the organisation was under two branches that of the maintenance under Mr F. H. llolz, and the administration under Mr A. Lloyd. The ambulance was doing good service. When the Hospital ambulance was called for, the men were on otlrer duties, and from no fault of their own, it might take from 20 to 30 minutes to arrive on the scene. Tho speaker referred to the speedy manner in which the free ambulance arrived when needed, and he was sure that it had saved many lives. Mr Lloyd had done well in connection with the administration. Thei service was being run on sound business lines.

INCORPORATION OF SOCIETY. Tho rules of the service were read by Mr llolz, superintendent and honorary secretary, and it was decided that the service be under tho (Friendly Societies’ Act. The objects wore stated to be ‘‘to make better provision for rendering first aid to and transport of sick and injured persons, and for that purpose to establish an organisation with certain powers and duties necessary . therefor and incidental thereto.” Mr Holz, in reply to tho request of the chairman, mentioned the members of the St. John Ambulance who had particularly helped the Free Ambulance in its work. They were Ambulance Officer Lewis, Sergeant Andrews, Privates Hatfield, Poynter, R. Andrews and Caldcr, and honorary bearer drivers 0. Holz and Leo. H. Lewis.

The chairman stated that only those connected with the service knew the large amount of work that had been done in an honorary capacity. On the motion of Mr Hatfield, seconded by Mr R. W. Andrews, the following resolution was carried unanimously':—“This meeting of subscribers and supporters of the Free Ambulance Service recommend to the committee that negotiations be entered into with tho Hospital Board with the view to the Free Ambulance Service taking over the whole of the ambulance work of the district in view of the fact that the Free Ambulance Service is urgently requiring a second ambulance to cope with the demand upon its facilities.”