NEW HEADQUARTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23222, 21 June 1937, Page 5

NEW HEADQUARTERS

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

MR SALTZMAN'S GIFT

FOUNDATION STONE LAID

A hope which has long been cherished by the Otago Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association was realised on Saturday, when Mr Samuel Saltzman, who has provided the funds for the erection of the building, laid the foundation stone of the new headquarters of the association in Lower York place. The-extent of Mr Sajtzman's benefaction on this occasion was" in the vicinity of £7OOO, which will provide the association with an up-to-date building in which it will have excellent facilities for the carrying on of its work There was a representative gathering at the ceremony, which was presided over by Mr John Ash. president of the Otago Centre of the Association. Members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade paraded for the occasion. THE ASSOCIATIONS WORK For just on 50 years, Mr Ash said, the Otago Centre of the St. John Ambulance had carried on its work, but because of its.limited financial resources it had been hampered by lack of accommodation suitable for its activities Some years ago ah effort had been made to raise funds for a new building, but now, through the generosity of Mr Saltzman, the centre's anxieties in that respect had beeri ended. On learning of the centre's difficulties in the matter of accommodation Mr Saltzman had offered to erect suitable premises, which meant a gift from him to the citizens of New Zealand of nearly £7OOO. As could readily be imagined, this would be an immense help to the association in carrying on its voluntary labours in the community. Referring to the work of the Otago Centre, the speaker said that at present three motor ambulances were in use and another was on order. The calls answered last year numbered 1387, and the ambulances travelled 12,884 miles, including trips to points as far apart as Oamaru, Riverton, and Queenstown. The ambulances were in charge of skilful drivers, who were versed in matters associated with first aid to the sick and injured In the past, through the courtesy of the- Fire Board* the ambulances were garaged at the Fire Station, but as that was no longer practicable Mr Saltzman's gut was a particularly welcome one. Another important phase of the association's activities was the district nursing, by which a great deal of valuable work was done, as could be seen from the fact that the nurses paid 6381 calls in Dunedin last year. The interest in first aid and home nursing was greater than ever, and several hew classes had. been formed this year. Conducted under the supervision of medical, men. the classes showed excellent results, the total passes in last year's examinations being over 200. Detailing the work carried out by members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade at sporting fixtures and other public functions, Mr Ash said the members gave up their time, often at great inconvenience to themselves, and last year had treated 5000 cases and attended 1000 public functions. Mr Ash also referred to the work of the Voluntary Blood Transfusion Society, which, he said, Was composed of brigade members and- others. In many cases it had enabled lives to be saved, and in others patients had been given increased chances of recovery, while at no time had the donors suffered in

health in any - way. ,■ v,r.-,,: ; :::i' . • •-. W- "The:association is greatly indebted to the Hospital Board, the Mayor and the members of the City Council, and other local bodies for help.they have given," Mr Ash concluded. " While this great gift of Mr Saltzman will be of immense value to the St. John Ambulance Association in carrying on its work, the principal result will be to confer benefits on those in the community who are sick, injured, : pr„ otherwise distressed." .-• . ;-, ',. A DREAM COME TRUE " To-day in the erection of this building we see the fulfilment of a longcherished dream," said the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox). "For many years the leaders of this movement have felt the need of a suitable headquarters for die carrying on of the important work undertaken for the amelioration of human suffering as it is brought on by accident, sickness, or other catastrophic occurrence in our community. Ways and means always baffled those dreamers, when one day there came forward a man, little known among us except that he had made some magnificent gifts to other worthy organisations, and he asked what type of building it was desired to erect. The dreamers then came down to concrete facts; they had their plans well sorted out, and informed the good Samaritan of the extent of their requirements To their surprise and intense joy, our friend said, 'Get your architect to work—l will foot the bill.'

The Mayor said he could conceive of no finer investment for money than to utilise it in that way That was the right use of money—to make possible the great works of mercy and charity which were as necessary to-day as ever they were in the world's history. While many people used their wealth for purely selfish purposes and others spent theirs in frivolity and pleasure, Mr Saltzman had the joy of knowing that his gift would bring help and healing every day to many sorely-stricken men. ".omen, and children.

Dr W. Newlands, who represented the Otago Hospital Board, stated thai his personal association with the St. John Ambulance Association went back for more than 30 years He said the relations between the Hospital Board and the association, which also extended over a lengthy period had always been most harmonious. This had been due to a large extent to the excellent work done as liaison officer by Dr Falconer, and the board had always appreciated fully the help it received from the association. Dr Newlands traced the growth of the association in Dunedin, and referred to the value of the work done by the association's hospital hostess, who was able.to render much greater assistance to the patients than could be 'done by any official acting on behalf of the 'board or any other organised body. After referring to the work of the association during the epidemic in 1919. Dr Newlands congratulated the association on its great step forward which the new building implied, and on tiie generosity of Mr Saltzman Mr J. H. White representing the architects, Messrs Miller and White, then presented a trowel to Mr Saltzman for use in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone.

Mr SALTZMAN'S ADDRESS "To-day 1 am privileged tu lay the foundation stone of this building," said Mr Saltzman, who was accorded musical honours as he rose to speak, "This organisation is well known to the people of New Zealand and through out the British Empire for its humanitarian services to the community, and it makes no distinction of race, creed class, 01 colour. While essentially British in character its service is international, and in addition to serving the community in peace, it also renders service on the battlefield in time of war—not with any desire to conquer or to extend its boundaries but merely to alleviate human agony and suffering. " The history ol llic Order ot St John is a fascinating one," Mr Saltzman continued " Like all great spiritual movements it was founded in the East—in Palestine—9oo years ago by men of great character and vision, who realised the need for such an organisation in the days to come The spiritual aspect came from the East, and the evidences in the Order ot the concrete, intellectual and reasoning mind from the West. Although at limes it has been threatened with extinction it has always been able to overcome the difficulties that faced it,

and has thus come down to the present time. Though old in years, it is developing greater strength and vitality as time goes on. "1 hope that the erection of this building will give the association facilities to extend its work," Mr Saltr.man concluded. ' The fact that I have been able to assist it gives me great pleasure, for it is indeed satisfactory to help a movement rendering such valuable service to the community Wc who have inherited to a large extent the benefits left by our predecessors must not only preserve them, but should add something to the sum total for the use of coming generations "

Mr Salztman, who was loudly cheered, laid the foundation stone, and the ceremony concluded with the singing of tbe National Anthem.