Order of St. John to Receive Impetus

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 561, 14 January 1929, Page 16

Order of St. John to Receive Impetus

ENGLISH DELEGATION TOUR IN NEW ZEALAND With the object of investigating the work of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and, at the same time, give fresh life and impetus to the movement, an English delegation has arrived in Auckland after a comprehensive tour of Australia. Those who arrived on tlie Aorangi last evening: were Sir John Hewett, G.C.5.1., K.8.E., C.1.E., and Mrs. St. John Atkinson, Dame of * Grace, his daughter. Major Colin and Lady Margaret Macßae, also passengers on the Aorangi, we're members of the delegation, but the indisposition of Lady Margaret compelled them to sever their association with the official party. Sir John Hewett and Mrs. Atkinson have already visited Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, and are much pleased with what they have seen of the work. “St. John Ambulance work is progressing well everywhere except in Tasmania, where it has lapsed for nine years,” said Mrs. Atkinson. “New councils have been formed in Launceston and Hobart, and there are very bright prospects of an association being formed in both places and later on a brigade with ambulance and nursing divisions.” The delegates have inspected ambulance, nursing and ambulance divisions in each State. Lectures on the history of the Order and the work of the brigade in England have been given. Lantern lectures on the pilgrimage ; of 1926 and the history of the Order were given in South Australia, Vic- ! toria and Tasmania, and a film showing the brigade at work and on parade in England was exhibited in Western Australia at Perth and Kalgoorlie. in Adelaide, and is being shown in Victoria. Sir John and Mrs. Atkinson are both much impressed by the great progress ; and magnificent prospects of Aus- • tralia. “We spent six weeks in Australia and will bo in New Zealand for three weeks,” aded Mrs. Atkinson. “Our official tour will end on February 1, ! after which we will spend a holiday ; in both the North and South Islands. “I hope to do some fishing and am ; mad keen on shooting, but I am afraid 1 am out of season for big game and ; have not brought my rifle. “The work of the Order at Home is ■ progressing steadily, and road patrols i are the latest innovation. Week-end 1 patrols are made and first-aid huts i are being established at places known I to be dangerous. The finances of the i Order are good, but people do not j know enough of the work. They i imagine the workers are paid. This is , not so. On the contrary there are a great many working people in our , ranks. In my own company of women ! l am the only one who does not earn her own living.”