NEW APPOINTMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1935, Page 22 (Supplement)

NEW APPOINTMENTS

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE MEN. NEW PLYMOUTH PROMOTIONS. After the monthly full-dress parade of the St. John Ambulance Brigade at New Plymouth on Thursday night several members received promotion and a presentation was made to the superintendent of the Taranaki division, Mr. R. A. Wall, who has been promoted district officer for Wanganui with special duty in Taranaki. Dr. D. E. Brown, division surgeon, presided over about 30 members. Other promotions were the appoint-

ments of Ambulance Officer A. E. Davidson to be acting superintendent . for Taranaki until his superintendency is confirmed by headquarters at St. John’s Gate, London; Private J. Johnson to the ambulance officer; divisional secretary A. M. Eagles to be divisional sergeant; Storeman M. Jemison to be divisional secretary; and Private A. Charters to be right flank corporal. Mr. H. Eagles had consented to, appointment as cadet superintendent and Was reported to have about 15 boys under his instruction. The boys’ division was reformed about five weeks ago. Mr. Wall said he was sorry to give up his position because he had been connected with the division since 1927, and had made many friendships and • enjoyed the work. He was in the ranks for a time and in 1930 became superintendent. Though ambulance men were now received with open arms by organisations of sport they had in the early days of their activities been regarded as rather a? joke and had had to contend against a certain amount of ridicule. Now the nublic was reassured to see a St. John uniform at a sporting event and the men were expected to be present. Only by being so could the division fulfil its function as an organisation for public service. Each week the corps in New Zealand were extending activities to the ambulance, junior and nursing divisions. The financial aspect of work at the New Plymouth centre had always been worrying. It was difficult to equip the men and field material was not up to standard. Now, however, a grant of £5O had been made and the division should go forward by leaps and bounds. Mr. Wall recommended that the new officers try to improve the'gear and the personal kits of the men. Non-active members, of course, were not issued with uniforms, but they were nevertheless a valued section of the division. Attendances at parades during his term of office were good, concluded Mr. Wall. ; If members supported the work and the '■ officers as they had done in the past the ; division would surely grow and prosper, i Concerning his own appointment Mr. f Wall said his district extended from . Awakino to Patea in Taranaki. It was • unfortunate that the Taranaki division > could never become a corps until the ■ name “New Plymouth centre” was al- ' tered by the association to “Taranaki ce-*re.”

On behalf of the division Mr. G. W. Childerstone made a presentation to Mr. Wall, saying that in spite of the troubles and disappointments he had had to face his work was very deeply appreciated. Mr. Wall replied. He thanked Dr. Brown for his unfailing assistance and as a souvenir of his association with the division presented him with a framed photograph of the 1935 New Plymouth ambulance division, 1 After acknowledging the gift Dr. Brown said he felt Mr. Wall’s appointment was the coping stone to the work he had done. It was due to his initiative and to the support the division gave him that it was in such a healthy state now. Very few divisions in New Zealand could compare with it for efficiency. It did its work well and it did not ask for appreciation. That it had battled through the lean years was a remarkable tribute to its tenacity of purpose. Dr. Brown concluded by giving advice to the new officers and to the men.