GORE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 24650, 23 January 1942, Page 8

GORE NEWS

MEDICAL SECTION OF E.P.S. Twenty enrolments were secured for the medical section of the Gore Emergency Precautions Committee at a meeting called by the section, and although this number was considered to be satisfactory the attendance of the public at the meeting was disappointing from the section’s point of view. The representation of the W.W.S.A., St. John Ambulance, Red Cross Society and Women’s Ambulance Transport attached to the Gore Fire Brigade was good and there were also representatives from the Waikaka E.P.S., but it was thought that the support of the general public would have been greater. Mr H. A. McColl, chairman of the medical section of the E.P.S., presided and outlined the medical scheme, and the duties of other sections of the organization. He referred to the duties of Red Cross and St. John Ambulance members in the event of an emergency and stressed that the section’s greatest need was for first-aiders, telephone girls or runners and kitchen orderlies to take over the first aid posts. Seven ambulance teams were still required and it was essential that these teams should be brought up to strength as soon as possible. The section was prepared to train anyone interested in ambulance or first aid work.

The section was going to form a cycle corps, Mr McColl said. Cyclists and runners would be required in the event of the telephone system being put out of operation. This was also an essential branch of the service.

A point stressed by the chairman was that E.P.S. forms could be signed at the Town Hall, but that in the event of a woman wanting to be insured while on service it was essential that she should also sign the W.W.S.A. cards, which were held by Mesdames C. G. Burgess and E. Coventry. Mr McColl also referred to the need for blood donors at Gore. Those willing to offer their services would be required to visit the hospital for a test. It was not a sacrifice; it was a duty. It was stated later that 24 blood donors had been secured.