ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17041, 24 December 1918, Page 8

ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

AUCKLAND BRANCH'S WORK.

Mb. RUSSELL'S SUGGESTIONS.

A deputation from the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association waited on the on. Arthur M. Myers, Acting-Minister for Finance, in the Minister*' Rooms, Customs Street, yesterday ■ morning. Mr. 0. J. Parr, M.P.. who introduced the deputation, stated that they were anxious to see the Minister in connection wit! a speech mudo by the Hon. G. W. Russell in the House of representatives during the recent session, and an interview that appeared in the press, in which Mr. Russell had suggested that, as the work of first aid and hygiene was so important, it should become a. national matter. It had also been stated by the Minister for Public HeaWi that the existing organisations would be quito useless, and it would be necessary to create a fresh department. Mr. Parr said bo considered this would be a very expensive matter for the State. If ft were decided to expand the excellent work that was being done by the St. John Ambulance Association, it appeared to hira that the common-sense w&y would be to make use of the organisations that existed at present, or at least for the Stale to operate with the association. It was requeued, therefore, that Mr. Myers would place their views on the matter before his colleague on the first opportunity. ! Mr. C. J. Tunks, president of the asso- ' cistion, said it had been training for years I for such an epidemic as had recently I viated Auckland, and ho Ithought that it would be generally conceded that excellent work had been done. The statement of the Minister for Public Health, therefore, that a wider movement was required was, he considered, a little hard, seeing that the. movement of St. John was worldwide. Mr. Tunks stated further that they considered the association was quito capable of doing all that was necessary, and nearly everything that Mr. Russell I had suggested was already being done in I Auckland. Certainly a lot more could be 'done by making th o attendance at leeI tures, "etc., more or less compulsory, I which would, of course, require more funds, but they were quite prepared to go on doing this work to the be* of their ' ability. Before any new organisation was brought into operation, he thought it ; should be proved that the association was 'not capable of carrying on the work. ■ Both in the Boer War and the late war, the Order of St. John had done its part with the utmc*t expedition. Mr. W. Rattray, hon. secretary of the association, also expressed the hope that | the Government would not do anything ! detrimental to the present arrangement. ! Tho association had always financed itself, I only one subsidy of £200 having been re- ' cerved from the Government. He stated, j however, that, thould the Government i consider it advisable to help them with a 'small subsidy, it would be exceedingly |heipful for "instruction purposes in the j country districts. ■ Mrs. Smith said that there were 200 'women members in Auckland, and she i was, of opinion that, should another i organisation be placed in tho field, it 1 would lead to chaos. | The Minister, in reply, expressed his I pleasure in meeting a deputation from I such an excellent institution. He was fully aware of the splendid work it had done in peace as well as war time. The association had stood on its own resources, ond he could only asßume that Mr. Russell, when making the statement referred to, was perhaps not fully' cognisant nf the splendid work done by the Aucki land branch of the association. The I Minister's desire to more fully extend the j work of first aid and home hygiene > was very important, arid was rightly receiving Mi. Russell's serious attention, but he I (Mr. Myers) did not doubt that co-opera« ! tion with the existing society would be most helpful in achieving tho desired object.' He would have great pleasure in ' immediately making representations, to I Mr. Russell, and placing the views of the j deputation before him. With reference to th» suggestion put forward by Mr. I Rattray that a subsidy for instruction In ! country districts would be appreciated, he regretted that it would not be possible to dc anything this year, but the question of mnkinir representations to the GovernI ment in this connection was, of course, a matter for the association to decide.