ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23504, 19 May 1938, Page 19

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

THE OTAGO CENTRE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TRIBUTES TO WORK OF ORDER The annual general meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association (Otago Centre) was held last night in the headquarters in York place, Mr T. Somerville (vice-president) occupying the chair. Reference was made by the chairman to the deaths of Mr J. C. White, Miss Sumpter (Oamaru) and Mr G. D. Fisher (Hampden), all ot whom had been valued members of the order with long periods of service to their credit. The customary tribute was Daid to the memory of the deceased. APPRECIATION OF ACTIVITIES Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman said it was the first time the annual meeting had been held in a hall owned by the Association This was due to the generosity of Mr S. Saltzman, whose munificent gift of new headquarters was so greatly appreciated by members and friends of the order. The speaker referred in appreciative ■ terms to the classroom and teaching accommodation now available and expressed the hope that these admirable facilities would result in an even higher standard of instruction than in the past. The speaker also mentioned the handsome offer by Mr F. H. King of a new ambulance, which was badly needed, and went on to refer to the great assistance given to the association by the Dunedin Fire Board in the matter of transport. Mr Somerville said there was still a lot of progress to be made, and in this connection he could not understand why the association was not receiving the support it deserved. Perhaps it was that they hid their light under a bushel too much. In the future they should indulge in more publicity and bring the importance and value of their work more prominently before the public. What was needed at the moment was an endowment fund and a large sustaining membership. When they had these the association could hope to provide a full and adequate service for suffering humanity. He hoped that before the jubilee year of the association closed they would have their buildings and equipment clear, a good endowment fund, and an adequate membership. In conclusion, the sneaker spoke in appreciation of the assistance rendered by the Otago Hospital Board, the Dunedin City Council, and the Harbour Board, and also to the services rendered by the secretary (Mr A. Peters) and the treasurer (Mr A. McHutchon). Miss Farquhar seconded the motion, and conveyed the good wishes and congratulations of the Otago Hospital Board to the association. The speaker expressed regret that through lack of funds the ambulances could not be housed in the new premises, but she was sure that when the public realised the position funds would be forthcoming to make this possible. A grant of £IOOO for nursing and transportation by the board had been empowered by the Government this year, and she hoped that that would be a help in the future. Mr H. Harris, speaking on behalf of the sports bodies in the city, expressed appreciation of the work done by the association in all branches of sport, and said that the valuable services rendered were fully recognised. Mr W. Pirrett spoke on behalf of the local brigade, and said the past yeat had been a busy one. Three new units had been established in ths nursing division, and they looked forward to the support of the association and the public in the future. At the moment people seemed to expect a great deal for nothing, but he hoped that a proper appreciation of the value of the work would speedily develop. Dr A. R. Falconer (chairman of the committee) referred to the valuable work done by the St. John Ambulance Brigade, whose activities were largely those of the association, and went on to discuss the air raids' precautions service which had recently been established. On the subject of finance, he said he could assure the brigade that the funds available were very rigidly controlled and conserved, and he hoped they would not become too restive under the restrictions that were necessary through a temporary shortage of money. The Otago Hospital Board had raised its grant to £IOOO, and the Dunedin Savings Bank had promised £SOO. It remained only to approp.ch the City Council for a special grant for its jubilee year. Mr A. McHutchon (treasurer) emphasised the necessity for raising the £SOOO which was the goal the association and the brigade set out to obtain some time ago. Without funds the work of the brigade and the nursing service was seriously hampered. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patrons—Sir Percy Sargood, Sir Louis Barnett, Mr S. Saltzman. and the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen): president, Mr John Ash; vice-presidents—Messrs T. Somerville, G. Moir, Dr W. H. Borne. Mrs G. M. Davis, Dr A. R Falconer and Messrs H. Harris and A. McHutchon; chairman, Dr A. R. Falconer; deputy chairman, Mr H. Harris; treasurer, Mr A. McHutchon; general committee —Miss Farquhar. Mrs W Ewing, Dr Roland Fulton, Messrs A C. Laing, D. C. Cameron, W. D. Pirrett, P. H. Morey, J. Moir, H. L. Paterson, P. C. Wilkinson, P. S. Anderson Dr N. Speight. Mr R. H Price, D. S. McLean, A. G. Swanson, and Mrs S. Fox; secretary. Mr A. Peters; auditor (hon.), Mr R. Crooks; and honorary solicitor, Mr A. I. W. Wood TRIBUTE TO WORK A glowing tribute to the work of the association and the brigade was paid by the Rev. V. G. Bryan King, who moved that "The St. John Ambulance Association is eminently worthy of the support of the public of Dunedin." Dr Ijl. Speight, seconding the motion, emphasised the importance of the blood transfusion and ambulance services, and said that the latter could not be fully effective as long as the association had to make do with the decrepit old vehicles at their disposal. Finance was a serious matter, but it looked as if the public were sitting back waiting to see what would happen in the way of centralisation. He hesitated to think of an ambulance service under Government control, and made an appeal to members to fight tooth and nail to preserve the St. John Ambulance Association from absorption in some cold and official State service The motion was carried.