ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Northern Advocate, 6 May 1930, Page 8

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

DOMINION OPERATIONS. CLEANINGS PROM REPORT. The .annual report of the St. John Ambulance Brigade within the Dominion of New Zealand is very comprehensive. It shows that the membership of the brigade is now 1628 as against 1518 for the preceding year, interesting excerpts from the document are as follow: WORK CARRIED OFT. The l annual reports furnished by corps and divisions throughout the Dominion show that the number of .services performed during the last year was 3(5,1.2-6, against 38,523 for the preceding- year, and 21,029 for 1927. The eases of “first attended to on public duty” totalled 14,804 against 12,021 for the previous year, and 10,192 for 1927 —an evidence of continued pro gross. The Christchurch Railway Division stands at the head of the list, with 3,113 eases, followed by National Reserve (Auckland) 2,000, Auckland Division 1903, Dunedin .1312, Wellington 542, Hamilton 431, Whangarei 320, Wanganui 212. New Plymouth 190, Onoluinga 159, Huntly 154, Timaru 150, Hillside Railway .140, East Town Railway 133, Northern Wairoa 110, Christchurch 100. Amongst the nursing divisions Auckland comes first with 445 eases. Wellington South -380, Gisborne 3OF, (National Reserve (Auckland) 201, 'Wellington 155, Wellington Suburban 145, Christchurch 105,

The number of cases of “first aid attended to not on .public duty” totalled 17,59(5, the figures for 1928 being 13.415, and for 1927, 10.075. The principal contributors were Hutt Valley Railway 5,334, Otahuhu Railway 4,223, Hillside Railway 3414; East. Town Railway 600, Wanganui 373, National Reserve (Auckland) 350. Dunedin 310, Timaru 213, Wellington .175, Onehunga 161. Christchurch Railway 121. In the nursing units Epsom records 237 cases, Auckland 223, Wellington Suburban 218, Dunedin 122. C a v-orsham. 106, Timaru 104.

The removal or transport work carried out by the brigade totalled 3,035 cases, against 1,779 for 1928. Wellington records 1578 cases, Invercargill 289, Whangarei 210, Hutt Valley Railway 196. Timaru 186, Oaraaru 145, Christchurch Railway 107, Dunedin 78. In Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin the transport of the sick and injured is controlled by the association, and the following figures, winch have been (kindly supplied by the secretary of each centre, give some information as to the extent of the work carried out: —Auckland, 1,401 cases, mileage run 13,798; Christchurch, 1,058 and 7,153: Dunedin, 1,384 and 10,619.

If to the above 3,843 cases of transport bo added the 3083 cases carried out by members of the brigade, a total of 6870 cases is arrived at, which, it must bo admitted, is a magnificent record of.work for St. .John.

In Wellington brigade members assist the free ambulance as honorary bearers, and during the year registered an •attendance of 2,6161 hours. INSPECTIONS. On December 2, the Chief Commissioner inspected "Whangarei Y.M.C.A. Ambulance Division, when the meni•bersi were present in full force. He also had an opportuuty of vieiting the ambulance station and seeing the motor ambulance which is controlled by the division, and he was much gratified to find that such excellent work was being done by the brigade in this northern town. COMMANDEfRY OP ST. JOHN. For some years there has been a desire for the enaction, iu the Dominion of, a command ory of the Order of St. John, and one of the objects which the recent, delegation from St. John’s Gate had in view Avas to ascertain Avhether the time was ripe for the institution of such an establishment of the order. It is 'understood that the report furnished to the Chapter-General Avas of a satisfactory nature; at any rate it. has now been intimated that, subject to the fnlfilnircß t of certain condition?, favourable eomiideratiou will be given to an application for the inauguration of a commaud(pry in New Zealand. Preliminary steps, have already been taken in the matter by the Dominion executive, and it mi.tv fairly be hoped that in the no distetnt future such a body Avill come into i'existence and thus permit of a 'certain amount of local government, Avhich Avill undoubtedly be in the best interest s of the order.

EFFI ‘.OTEXCT. | invest iga tlon lias been titn*l e | ns. to the proport' inn of members of the 'brigade who Inn sane efficient for the 1 (year. According to brigade regulations j tho raqui cements. .for efficiency arc that loach member s'aall .attend twelve 'parados or drills, and also bo present at j the annual inspection and re-examina-I tion. Membe r*; who fail to fulfil those {conditions aj e not eligible to count the year for ■ the service badge, certifb 'cate or mccta 1, On the F. Ist December last the inoij .bership of the brigade in I the Dominbff n was 1,(528, and after deducting 52,, which represents the number belongii ig to the new divisions who could not c' laim efficiency for the year, there was £ total of 1,57(5, out of which 974 qualifi ed as efficient, representing a. percent.' igc of (51, which it is considered, s I lould with some effort on the part o-f :i idividuals and particularly of

those controlling units be capable of considerable improvement. Officers in charge of divisions are desired to frequently impress upon members the necessity of their fulfilling the requirements of the regulations each year, and iu eases where, through unavoidable causes, members are prevented from attending the inspection or re-examination arrangements should, if possible, be made for enabling them to attend at neighbouring divisions or

have special arrangements made for them. In the case of a certain number of divisions last year, the number of efficients was most satisfactory; for instance, Auckland Ambulance qualified 58 members out of a roll of 59, while the following divisions were able to qualify the whole of their number: — Wellington 37, 'Christchurch Nursing 3.1, No. 1 Loco Railway (Dunedin) 29, Palmerston North Railway 16, Masterton 14. In the case of Hutt Valley Railway rand Oama.ru only two members failed to become efficient, while Whangarei Y.M.0.A., Hami/ltnn, Lyttelton Railway, No, 3 Ambulance (Christchurch). Wanganui Central Cadet Nursing, each returned only three non-efficients. On the other hand, some divisions have qualified only about 50 per cent., and it. is in the case off these units where improvement is particularly desired. WHANGAREI PREPARATION. ! Lectures for the Whangarei Division will commence this evening.