ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 7 (Supplement)

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

NEW PLYMOUTH ANNUAL MEETING

REPORTS FROM DIVISIONS. In presenting the report of the New Plymouth St. John Ambulance Association at the annual meeting the chairman, Mr. R. A. Wall, reported that a fairly satisfactory year had been completed. The main duty to the public of running first-aid classes had been continued as in the past. Though probably not as regularly as desired, but as often as sufficient numbers of the public were interested and willing to qualify through these courses. Thanks and appreciation were tendered to Mr. J. Maxwell Clark and Dr. D. E. Brown for their services as lecturer and examiner respectively in connection with the classes during the year. In October last the annual appeal for funds was made, the result being £45 7s Id. Considering the difficult times, this was fairly satisfactory. Much of the money was absorbed in maintaining rooms, practice and equipment, etc., for the use of the various ambulance and nursing divisions. This year the appeal was to be made jointly with the Y.W.C.A, and the Royal Life-Saving Society. The financial position of the association showed receipts amounting to £62 8s and expenses £49 10s Bd, with a credit balance of £l2 17s 6d. During the year a number of social functions had been held, a profit of £9 being made. In connection with the social side thanks were due to Miss F. Wright, Mrs. R. A. Bent and Mr. R. Wright for their many services, and the Chequers Tea Rooms for the use of tables, etc. “In presenting the reports of the various divisions,” said Mr. Wall, “we are pleased to note steady progress and in some cases expansion further afield. This we consider to be satisfactory and trust that their good work will progress and expand considerably during the coming year. MEN’S DIVISION. The New Plymouth men’s division’s report stated that 50 weekly parades had been held during the year. These had been held for drill and practice purposes and were well attended. The public duty activities of the division as in the past had been of a very wide and useful character, extending over practically all North Taranaki, and on one occasion to Ohura and Opunake. • It was a pleasure to report that on all busy occasions it had been able to act in conjunction with the Taranaki Automobile Association and to staff many sports and public grounds.

The total number of cases treated on public duty during the year was 763, a number being of a serious nature. A large number of people requiring first aid had been treated by the members while not officially on duty. During the year a section of the division had been foj-med at Stratford with a membership of 12 in charge of Mr. J. L. O. Rowe. Much useful work was being done and the future of this young section seemed assured. At Waitara there was a representative of the division, who was, doing splendid work and covering as much ground as possible, the number of cases treated on public duty being 88, including several he was not on duty officially. The work of increasing the membership was well in hand and it should not be long before a very strong section was established at Waitara. The examination and inspection of the division. took place in August and October respectively, and on both occasions the divisional surgeon, Dr. D. E. Brown, commented in very favourable terms on the practical and theoretical knowledge of first aid, also in connection with the drill and transport work. The balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to £35 13s 6d and expenditure £2B 10s 7d, with a credit balance of £7 2s lid. The financial position was not quite as satisfactory as desired, although the expenses were kept down to a minimum. The matter of equipping members was the most difficult problem at the moment, as it costs in the vicinity of £5 10s to equip a member. As there were 16 waiting it could be readily seen how difficult it was to put the matter on. a satisfactory footing. During the evening the divisional surgeon, Dr. D. E. Brown, took the opportunity to present Div. Supt. R. A. Wall and Pvt. J. Johnston with the brigade’s five-year service certificate. He congratulated them on having been awarded these certificates. NURSING ACTIVITIES. The nursing division report stated that during the year 24 practices had all been fairly well attended. Owing to most of the members being at business during the week it was not possible to go on public duty as much as was desirable,. Anzac Day was the only public duty attended, although members of the division attended 60 cases privately. A team was sent to the Easter competitions at Wanganui, and although not successful in winning the trophies’ it acquitted itself well, gaining second and third in the two competitions entered for. Funds to enable the team to travel were raised by an evening at Mrs. Wright’s, and competitions.

The Dr. Davie Cup for annual competition was won by Miss B. F. Wright. Practically all members now had uniforms. The year was begun with a credit balance of £1 15s 8d and ended with a credit balance of £1 16s 2d. Thanks were due to Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Childerstone and Dr. Davie for their help. The cadet ambulance division had a roll numbering 18, 14 sitting for reexamination on August 14, 1933. The examination was conducted by Divisional Surgeon Dr. Brown. All 14 passed, and the remaining four passed their first aid examination on December 15. The annual inspection of the division was held in December, one inspecting officer being Supt. R. A. Wall, who expressed his satisfaction with the work and appearance of the boys. Attendance at the fortnightly drill during the year had been very satisfactory. Several minor cases of first-aid treatment had been well-handled by some of the boys. The girl cadets, it was reported, had a successful year, one junior home nursing and one junior first aid 6 class being held during the year. Twelve girls sat for the home nursing examination conducted by Dr. Davie, and 16 for the first aid examination conducted by Dr. Brown. All candidates passed, the majority gaining maximum marks. There were 20 cadets on the roll, with an average attendance of 18, and 44 practices were held last year. Nineteen cadets were present at the annual inspection held on December 12, conducted by Div. Supt. R. A. Wall. The annual picnic was held at Kawaroa Park on March 24, when the girls spent a very enjoyable day.