ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21615, 6 October 1933, Page 8

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Few, if any, causes for which public collections are made have the universality of the appeal to be made to-day by the St. John Ambulance Association. Every man, woman and child of the district is in debt to this remarkable organisation for the voluntary first aid and transport service it maintains throughout the 24 hours of every day in the year. Founded upon Christianity, inspired by noble traditions that have been built up through the centuries, the service that succours the sick and injured and helpless is itself an inspiration in a civilisation so strongly materialistic. Its members claim no credit, nor do they parnde their deeds, which often are arduous and nerve-racking. Theirs is the "simple service simply given to their own kind in their common need." The constancy of the first aid service is of the kind that usually is associated with naval or military life. One of tho penalties for its reliability is that it is taken almost as a matter of course. The citizen who sees a motor ambulance speeding on its journey of mercy, a journey that may decide the issue between life and death, requires to be reminded on such an occasion as the appeal for funds that beyond the contract with the Hospital Board, the association has no regular resources. It does not require any official status —doubtless it owes much of its strength to its adherence to the voluntary principle —but it does need funds, and that need is commended to the city's most generous attention to-day. To give ia a duty as well as an acknowledgment of services rendered and benefits received. It is unnecessary to allude to all the activities which are embraced by the association's work. It is enough to say that the same efficiency, the same spirit of humanity, gives distinction to them all.