ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20441, 11 June 1936, Page 14

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERS ELECTED The annual meeting of the South Canterbury Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association was held last night. The chairman of the committee (Dr. F. F. A. Ulrich) presided in the absence of the president (Mr B. E. H. Tripp). The chairman extended a welcome to those present, and said that they would have liked to have seen more of the public present, thus indicating that they were taking an interest in the association. In moving the adoption of the annual report (previously published), the chairman said that they had received splendid assistance from Women’s Institutes throughout South Canterbury, and he wanted the Institute members to know that their assistance was greatly appreciated. During the year a big competition had been held, and had been very successful. The thanks of the association were due to the Municipal Band, which had never turned the association down. The chairman paid a tribute to the work of the secretary (Mr J. M. Dunne), stating that he did the work in an honorary way, and they should be extremely grateful to him. He had been round the district endeavouring to secure subscriptions for a new ambulance, and so successful had he been that a new ambulance would be available in a few weeks’ time. Some of the officers had visited Christchurch and had investigated methods there, and had learned what to do and what not to do so far as the ambulance was concerned. The chairman made reference to the campaign conducted by the secretary and himself among the local bodies in the district, pointing out that they had placed the whole position before each body and had asked whether they thought the association was working along right lines. Eater a conference was held in Tlmaru, the question of finance being discussed. The opinion was expressed that the finance should come through the legal channel, the Hospital Board, and representations were made to the Board, which made an additional grant of £5O. He could not understand the psychology of the Finance Committee

of the Board, but the association was not satisfied, and would again approach the local bodies. The question of the licensing of the ambulance' was discussed, members being of the opinion that it should not be necessary to have to pay a license fee. It was agreed that the incoming committee should make representations to the Member for Timaru in the

matter, asking him to discuss the position with the Minister of Transport. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted as follows;—Chairman, Dr. F. F. A. Ulrich; secretary, Mr J. M. Dunne; committee, Mesdames F. Lewis, J. Shortland, J. Courtis, Misses E. T. McAteer, K. Porter, E. Goldsman, Messrs P. Tutty, J. W. Duncan, C. E. Hooper, H. A. Toneycliffe, W. H. Foden and A. E. Chapman. Service of Secretary It was decided to recommend to the incoming committee that fitting recognition be made of the splendid Service given by the secretary over a period of 20 years. The chairman said that New Zealand had been made a commandery, and that meant that they were now in a position to control their own affairs. Being a commandery, they were expected to contribute to an opthalmic hospital in Jerusalem, but how they were going to raise the money he did not know. It was agreed that the committee should consider ways and means of raising a sum to send to Jerusalem.