ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 255, 28 October 1936, Page 6

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

ANNUAL CORPS INSPECTION OVER 200 RANKS ON PARADE INSTR I ( TION IN PROTECTION FROM GAS ATTACK The- annual inspection of the WanI ganui District Corps of the St. John ’ Ambulance took place at the Drill i Hall last night, the inspecting officer I being Commissioner J. Brine. He had 'associated with him district president, Mr Hope Gibbons, and the vice-presi- ' dent, Mr R. L. Thompson. Over 200 ranks parade, and made an i imposing spectacle, their presence typifying the spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty which permeates .this splendid organisation. Both the 'men’s section and the nursing division ‘were strongly represented, and in confirmation of the growing appeal of the ■St. John service there were 112 cadets included in the parade. I Folio whig the inspection tributes to | the memory of the late Superintendent George Sleight and Mrs Jessie : Hope Gibbons were paid by the com- . missioner, and the parade confirmed (those tributes in right-handed salutes. , Commissioner Brine complimented 'all ranks on the standard attained, i Every year, he said, the parade im- ' proved and showed that the endeavour Ho live up to the standard set by the [regulations was something to be proud • of. The corps showed a great deal of | promise, too, in respect to the younger ■ members. j Mr Gibbons referred to the fine exi ample the St. John members set the [community in general. The way tne | parade turned out. in dress and genleral efficiency, it formed an excellent i testimonial to the many years of I work, over 40 the speaker believed, [ which had gone to the building of the [corps. The speaker had been told by [the Dominion secretary of the organisation that Wanganui was the first to 'commence a cadet section. That was [something of which the city had a i right to be proud. Long service medals and decorations (were then presented by the district [president, as follows: To Mrs George Lucock, lady superintendent (nursing division); Sergeant 'Hutchins (Wanganui East Railway), and Corporal McDonald (Wanganui East Railway), al) 12 years’ service. A bar to his long service medal was presented to Commissioner Brine to mark the completion of 40 years’ work for the cause. A bar was also presented to Corps Officer R. Wakeley, on completion of 20 years’ seri vice. ; Great interest was displayed in the instruction given by a representative |of the Defence Department in the use lof gas masks. It is realised that the ■ use of gas in warfare will take toll |of civilian life unless adequate safej guards are taken, and it is part of 1 the defence policy of New Zealand to see that as full instruction as possible is circulated among units of the type represented by the St. John Ambulance.