CENTRAL BODY URGED

Southland Times, Issue 23537, 17 June 1938, Page 4

CENTRAL BODY URGED

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE AFFAIRS

EFFORT TO CONSOLIDATE ACTIVITIES

An attempt to consolidate the working of the Invercargill Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association and its different units was made at the annual meeting of the centre last night. Several members said that they found the present position confusing and expressed the opinion that the working of the organization should be centralized. The meeting passed a resolution requesting the trustees to meet and go into the position. It was also announced that the Finance Committee had resigned and Mr G. Skipworth, who was a member of that committee and has been associated with the order for many years, informed the meeting that he was withdrawing from all St. John Ambulance activities.

A discussion took place on a statement of receipts and expenditure presented by Mr Skipworth. On behalf of the hall committee, Mrs G. M. Chapman complained that it covered a period of four years instead of showing the position from year to year. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Mr Skipworth read a statement of assets and liabilities, which showed an excess of assets amounting to £B7l 2/-, and went on to explain how the hall was conducted. He said that some years ago a committee had been set up comprising two representatives of the bodies connected,with the Order of St. John. On the completion of the hall the question arose: Who owned it? The committee resolved that the property was owned by the Order of St. John—it was not owned by either the brigade or the association. A Finance Committee of three was appointed and it had sole charge of the finance and was responsible to the trustees. It was decided that the Finance Committee should make a levy on the brigade and the association. He had given a statement covering the period since the hall was built up to the end of December. They had 14/5 in hand to meet accounts totalling £4 16/-. If the units had paid their levies when they were made the committee would have been able to pay its accounts. Mr Skipworth announced that he had resigned from the Finance Committee, and his resignation was in the hands of the trustees. The secretary, Mr A. Branks, said that they could clear the matter up by vesting everything in the association. In Dunedin the local centre collected all moneys. “TOO MANY COMMITTEES” Mr V. Tiley declared that the association was top heavy—there were too many committees controlling the finances—and they did not know where they were. It was ridiculous the way the business was being carried on. The whole thing could be simplified by giving control to the association. The chairman said that something would have to be done or they would be in a hopeless position. He always understood that the association was the parent body and that the various units were branches.. It was announced that Miss E. West and Mr I. D. Mclvor, the two other members of the Finance Committee, also intended to resign. The chairman said he thought an appeal should be made to the public by the St. John Ambulance Association—not any particular branch. “The Finance Committee has resigned,” said Mr Miller. “The next thing is to have a meeting of the trustees—and they may resign, too.” Mr Skipworth moved that the meeting request the hall trustees to consider the question of the assets of which they are trustees. He said he thought it was now a matter for the trustees alone. . n. In reply to a question Mr Skipworth said that he was withdrawing from all St. John Ambulance activities. He would leave with happy recollections of his work with the order. The chairman said that unless everyone was prepared to pull together the present situation would continue. The sooner the meeting of trustees was held the better. . Mr Skipworth’s motion was carried.