AMBULANCE DINNER

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1933, Page 7

AMBULANCE DINNER

Ambulances Needed.

Public Assistance.

SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION.

FINANCING- THE WORK.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.

Between seventy and eighty active members of the local St. John ambulance and their friends assembled last night to participate in the annual dinner and social.

Dr. Ward presided. The principal guests were Mr C. J. Tunks, M.8.E., chairman of the committee of the Auckland centre, and Mr S. C. Langetoue, manager of the Auckland centre. After the Loyal toast had been honoured the chairman, Dr. Ward, briefly proposed the health of “The Order/’

Mr Tunks, in responding, drew attention to the fact that veiy little was known about the work of the organisation by the general public. Even the Deputy Mayor of Auckland confessed at the annual meeting a few nights ago that if he had not been present, in all probability ho would not have read the report, Mr Tunks commended the reading of the Forty-second Annual Report of the Auckland Centre to everyone; It showed clearly what the Order stood for in the community.

It gave an idea of how the work has spread, and showed that during the last twelve months 1475 lectures of all kinds had been given, and the number still went on increasing - . The Auckland centre had been asked why it had so many ambulances, why it travelled such long distances, and why it did not make more use of the railway.

The answers to these queries were simple. They had so many ambulances because they needed them. They travelled such long distances because the running of the brains did not always suit, particularly so with patients who required urgent treatment. Accidents did not always happen near a railway line. Patients had to be brought in from the most remote places and that was .why so many ambulances were required and why such long distances were travelled.

lii Auckland they had taken on considerable liability. One of the citizens recently presented them. with a .car and they were providing accbmmodalion for it. “You know up here what it is to be in debt/’ he said. “Your division has something to work for to get out of debt." In Auckland the station had doubled in size during the last few years. Mr Tunks then congratulated the local division on the afternoon’s muster when there were 65 on parade. He considered that very creditable to the division. To show the work the Whangarei division was doing, he asked the cadets to stand. Twelve stood up. He congratulated them and encouraged them to go ahead and make themselves proficient. Showing the necessity for a general knowledge of first aid, Mr Tunks instanced the case of a young man who, after a recent motor accident, bled to death from a cut wrist simply because neither the victim of the accident nor the driver knew how to apply first aid to stem the flow of blood. He would therefore ask all cadets to make good use of the general knowledge they were acquiring and continue their studies and persevere in their work until they became thoroughly proficient. .

Replying to the toast of the “ Citizens’ Committee,” proposed by Dr. Ward, Mr L. W. Nelson expressed the opinion that the Governmental authorities should do more to provide for such an essential service as the St. John Ambulance. Taxpayers already contributed to many objects which were not nearly as useful to humanity. The Citizens’ Committee had been instituted to assist tho brigade out of difficulties which had existed from the foundation of the brigade. Mr Nelson thought that a levy of 1-I2oth of a penny on the rateable value of the county would be more than sufficient to provide ample funds to keep the local brigade in a perfect state of efficiency.

He asked why tho responsibility should be handed on in perpetuity to the few who always responded readily to tho call of humanity, when the serr vice was available to everybody. The idea was widespread, Mr. Nelson, continued, that the Ambulance was 'State subsidised and free. This was quite erroneous and should be corrected wherever possible. When such fine men as Dr. Ward and Mr. Tanks were willing to devote years of splendid effort in fitting young men for such valuable service to the State, the public authorities should do more for the work of St. John.

Supplementing Mr. Nelson’s remarks, in regard to the misconception of a free ambulance, Mr. C. J, Tanks eaid that someone always had to pay for the service. Tho term had originated in Wellington, where the local bodies found the necessary revenue. So far as transport work was concerned, he believed that those who could pay should do so. In the case of those who could not pay, the service certainly was a free one.

Rate The Best. The Mayor, Mr. W. Jones, in proposing the toast of the St, John Ambulance Brigade, made an important statement of policy. “I am convinced,.” ho said “thru. there is only one way such a public service can be earned out, and that is by putting the load on everyone. I believe that a rate of less than .1-,120th of a penny would suffice, I am strongly in favour of tlio finance being arranged in this manner, and will support it whenever 1 have the opportunity. (Applause).” The maintenance of such organisations as the Ambulance and the Blanket Society, when spread over the whole district, represented a very small cost to the individual, but when a few had to arrange the finances the burden was heavy and the result was instability.

Mr Jones paid a fine tribute to the work which the senior division of the local Brigade were doing in the public weal, and advised both the male and nursing cadets to follow in excellent footsteps. Replying, Dr. Ward said that the

work in Whangarci was advancing in a steady and healthy manner. The Transport work gave a great incentive to the members of the senior brigade, who had to be just as active on January 1 as on June 1, which, on account of winter sports, was usually in the busiest period. Dr. Ward quoted several instances of what members of a country brigade, who had to contend with bad roads, were asked to overcome.

Mr. S. E. Lowe, sponsoring the toast of the- visitors, especially welcomed the parents of the cadets. As an ambulance officer who had been through the mill, he appealed to parents to encourage cadets in the regular attendance of instructional classes.

Mr. D. T. Wood, who replied, said that it gave him groat, comfort, as a country man, to know that such an ambulance, staffed by well trained and efficient men, was always at call. ' He believed that the value of a well equipped service was more appreciated in the country districts. The concluding toasts wore “The Press”, proposed by Transport Officer W. J. McLeod, and responded to by “Northern Advocate’ ’ representative, and “The Chair,” proposed by Mr. D. T. Wood, to which Dr. Ward .replied. Items were given by Miss Beryl Crawford (songs) and Mr. Geo Tupp, (flute solos), the accompanist being Mies V, Kelly.