WAIMARINO AMBULANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 65, 19 March 1943, Page 4

WAIMARINO AMBULANCE

TO BE LOCATED IN RAETIHI HOSPITAL BOARD DECISION After receiving deputations from Raetihi and Ohakune interests at the monthly meeting yesterday, the Wanganui Hospital Board decided that the new ambulance for the Waimarino district will be stationed at Raetihi, where the Waimarino Hospital is located. Mr. W. H. Sandford made representations on behalf of Raetihi’s claims, and Mr. E. B. Lothian stated the case for Ohakune.

“We hope that whoever gets the ambulance there will be no ill-feeling, and that the two areas will cooperate,” said the chairman, Mr. W. E. Broderick (Maxwell) after hearing the deputations. He added that the board did not wish any parochial feeling to creep in. The board’s main aim was the provision of an ambulance service for the Waimarino district. “I am here with an open mind on the matter and I’m sure this applies to other members of the board,” the chairman added. Mr. Sandford said at the outset that he had been asked to represent several organisations in Raetihi, but he was concerned with the welfare of the Waimarino district as a whole. Mr. Sandford added that he had been associated with the Raetihi Hospital since 1914, when the district was inspected with a view to a hospital being established. After all aspects had been considered, Raetihi was selected as the most suitable locality for a hospital. Mr. Sandford also asked the board to consider that Raetihi was the centre of the district, with facilities at the hospital for an ambulance station. Dressings, medical and nursing staff and equipment were available there, and a heating system in the building where the vehicle could be housed would ensure that even in the coldest of winter weather the motor could be started without difficulty. This was an important point when the urgency of ambulance calls was considered.

Statistics showed that for every hospital case from Ohakune, there were two from Raetihi. If located in Ractihi the ambulance would be operated by the Red Cross Society. Ohakune people were very much alarmed at the possibility of the ambulance not being stationed there, said Mr. Lothian. He claimed that Raetihi was only on the edge of the district, and that Ohakune was in the centre, with many industrial undertakings nearby. In addition, 200 railroad employees were stationed at Ohakune Junction. Mr. Lothian added that the Ohakune Borough Council was interested in the project and keen to see the ambulance stationed there. A garage would be erected and the Railways Department would provide some of the materials. The St. John Ambulance Brigade had undertaken to staff the ambulance and maintain the motor in good order free of cost. “Ohakune is definitely the centre of population and along the Main Trunk Railway are 20 or more industries, mostly engaged in timber milling. Cases are often brought to Ohakune Junction by rail,” Mr. Lothian added. After the deputation had retired, Mr. A. S. Coleman (Marton) said the most logical place for the ambulance appeared to be Raetihi, and moved accordingly. Seconding the motion, Mr. T. C. Kincaid (Taihape), said that as the hospital was located at Raetihi the ambulance should be stationed there. If in due course a hospital were established at Ohakune the question of another ambulance could be raised. Mr. J. Robertson (Wanganui) held that the ambulance should be located at Ohakune, but after further discussion the board decided in favour of Raetihi.

The question of whether the ambulance service is to be free, or otherwise. will be considered by a special committee.