The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1934. THE HOSPITAL AMBULANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 148, 26 June 1934, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1934. THE HOSPITAL AMBULANCE

unemployment still rife in the city, with rates at an uncomfortable level, with the prospect of Harbour Board rates increasing in the future unless some radical rearrangement of transportation services is speedily made, it is the duty of every local body to keep its expenditure to the lowest minimum. It is only by so doing that the community can escape from the present pressing difficulties. There are few people who will dissent from the foregoing. Yet at this time the Wanganui Hospital Board is determined to spend public money for the purchase of a motor ambulance, notwithstanding the fact that a Free Ambulance service is already available within the district. The Wanganui Free Ambulance service has received a wide measure of popular support; presumably it is efficient, its ability to function has now been demonstrated. Even in Wellington there is an echo of approval for the work done by the Free Ambulance service of that city, and it is hard to believe that such a service could not continue to function successfully in the Wanganui Hospital District. The outlay for the motor ambulance is, of course, only the initial cost; other costs follow on and are continuing. It is surely not necessary to have two ambulances in Wanganui, and seeing that is so, common sense indicates that a satisfactory arrangement should be come to between the Hospital Board and the Free Ambulance service for the latter to do all the ambulance work within the district. The public has a right to expect that the cost of an ambulance should be avoided so long as it is not absolutely necessary. There may be some valid reason for the Hospital Board not desiring to eo-operate with the Free Ambulance service, but it is not an apparent reason, whereas the reasons for the establishment of a co-operative effort in regard to the ambulance service are glaringly obvious.