MOVE FOR AMBULANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1933, Page 8

MOVE FOR AMBULANCE

STRATFORD CITIZENS ACT. PRESS APPEAL LIST OPENED. By a decision to open a public subscription list and obtain the co-opera-tion of the Press in making the appeal towards the attainment of the £2OO required by the Stratford Hospital Board from the general public in the Stratford and Whangamomona districts a definite step was taken by a public meeting of over 20 citizens at Stratford last night, which was presided over by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan). A committee was set up and it was decided to approach local bodies for. donations and to attempt to raise the amount required by Christmas, if possible by direct subscription. Public men in country districts will be asked to organise their areas.

Donations sent to the Taranaki Daily News Office, Stratford, will be handed to the ambulance committee and all donations will be acknowledged in the News. Donations may also be handed to the town clerk (Mr. P. Skoglund), the secretary of the ambulance appeal committee (Mr. W. D. 'Young) or any member of the committee.

The meeting had • been called at the instigation of the Chamber of Commerce, said Mr. MacMillan. The majority of residents seemed to consider that an amb ilance was necessary. The Hospital Board had made a fitting gesture in setting aside £2OO from the Sanders bequest and he did not think the board’s stipulation that the rest of the money be raised in three months would be the obstacle it might appear. If people wanted an ambulance they would find the necessary money well within three months. ' .

The. Chamber of Commerce, said Mr. W. Hoskin, the president, considered that an ambulance was a necessity in the district. Cases of hardship and suffering could be enumerated by residents both at Stratford and' in the surrounding districts which could have been prevented if an ambulance had been available. The country districts had promised their co-operation, said Mr. Hoskin, and Stratford as a progressive town should make this progressive movement. The chamber considered the offer by the Hospital Board a handsome gift and the public ought to show its appreciation, he considered. Mr. Hoskin submitted a list of citizens from which, he said, it was hoped to obtain financial assistance. In addition they were assured of many donations.

The Mayor moved the following motion: That this meeting heartily endorses the action of the Hospital Board in allocating £2OO from the Sanders bequest to help to buy an up-to-date ambulance and that we accept the responsibility of raising the additional £2OO necessary. The motion was carried. Mr. J. C. Robins, in opening the discussion, said that in such an area as that comprising the Stratford and Whangamomona counties and the Stratford borough, with a population of about 10,000, there should be no difficulty in raising £2OO by subscription. There was no need to debate the question of the necessity of an ambulance. Mr. Robins considered that if the Press supported the appeal and opened its columns to a subscription list the money could ■be raised before Christmas. If there were still a shortage functions could be organised. Mr. D. J. Malone, president of the Strafford Racing Club, said he considered the necessary sum could be raised by subscription throughout the area. He suggested Strafford borough raise £lOO and the country districts be asked to find the other £lOO. He would favour the straight-out appeal method, although he had no. desire to dictate to the country districts. The majority of business men in the town had too many organisations to work for now to organise further functions at such a busy time. In any case a glance through the borough roll would give one the opinion the raising of the money by subscription would be a simple matter. Mr. Malone recalled that about four or five years ago bodies had been asked for donations towards an ambulance but the move had lapsed and nothing had been heard of it since. Mr. Malone moved that a subscription list be opened immediately and promised the Racing Club’s support. The motion was carried.

Mr. C. Till suggested that the country districts should be asked to run entertainments. Mr. J. C. Allen agreed, emphasising that the borough committee was not “running things by itself.” It was decided to make it clear that there was to be no restriction on how funds were to be raised. The meeting proceeded to elect a committee as follows: Messrs. W. Hoskin, Malone, McMillan, Robins, B. Vinsen,. W. D. Young, S. Hayton, A. David and C. Till. Mr. W. D. Young was fleeted secretary and treasurer and at a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. McMillan was elected chairman and Mr. W. Hoskin deputy-chairman. ' The committee proceeded to discuss the organisation of the appeal. The following bodies are to be approached for donations: Stratford Borough Council, Stratford County Council, Whangamomona County Council, Stratford Racing Club, Stratford A. and P. Association, Taranaki Rugby Union, Stratford Football Club, Celtic Football Club, Stratford Motor-Cycle Club and the Stratford Agency of the South Taranaki Automobile Association. Meetings will be convened throughout the districts contigulous to Stratford. SUBSCRIPTION LIST OPENS. ’ The following donation has already been received: — Mr. D. J. Malone £1 0 0