Council Asks for Ambulance Service Conference

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 123, 26 May 1936, Page 8

Council Asks for Ambulance Service Conference

“DUTY TO RATEPAYERS,” SAYS COUNCILLOR TENNENT.

An amendment to a resolution for the adoption of a decision of the works committee, was made by the City Council last evening, the effect of which is to request tho Palmerston North Hospital Board to call a conforenco between itself, the Free Ambulance, and the City Council. Tho original clauso contained these words: “That the council is not satisfied with the position in regard to ambulances.”

Cr. W. B. Tennent moved that the clause then conclude as follows: “And that the council request the board to call a conference with the Free Ambu. lance and with City Council representatives, in order to reach a decision satisfactory to all concerned.”

Councillor Tennent said it was essen. tial to reach a basis suitable both to tho board and tho other service. The council had a right to call such a conference as a representative body of ratepayers. The estimates of the Hospital Board called for the provision of two new ambulances, and as tho Free Ambulance was giving good service, this seemed unnecessary and an undue burden of duplication on ratepayers. Cr. J. Hodgens: 1 wonder if it is wise for the council, as a contributing body, to request the board, a controlling authority, representing a number of bodies, to give us special privileges as a council? What would other bodies think? If I were representing ono of them on the board, I think I would resent -t. In fact, 1 partly resent it

Cr. Hodgens recalled that the health regulations demanded that a hospital board should keep an ambulance. if a group of citizens then came along and established another service, it was they who were running counter. He had understood that the Freo Ambulance wished to assume full control of hospital work, but they had never been ablo to get a thorough knowledge of the financial position of the service.

Dcspito tho regulation referred to, the Wellington Hospital had no ambulance of its own, but granted £I2OO a year to the Free Ambulance, stated Cr. Tennent, in reply. To call the conference was tho minimum of dQty due by tho council to ratepayers, as the waste of money should bo prevented. It might not mean the assumption of control by the Free Ambulance as at present constituted, but might lead even to the abolition of that organisation and the establishment of some new and more representative body to con. duct a community service.

Tho amendment was agreed to, only Cr. Hodgens dissenting.