COMMUNITY WELFARE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 11 August 1921, Page 4

COMMUNITY WELFARE.

WORK OF ST. JOHN AMBULANCE An outline of the work of the St. John Ambulance Association since the days of Queen Victoria’s reign wsa given members of the local Brigade by Captain McKinney, commissioner for the Association in Canterbury, during his visit to Waimate. The St. John work commenced it the days of St. John of Jerusalem, Captain McKinney stated, but it was in Queen Victoria’s time that it was placed upon an organised footing. This work had extended from Britain to the colonies and in fact throughout the Empire. It was of an all-embracing character; and the Association had undertaken, beside the first aid work, the foundation and maintenance of convalescent and nursing homes, and various benevolent institutions. The branch in Waimate was just' as integral paart of the organisation as the brigade in London. and the ambulance badge was lo -ked upon in the same light a sthe policeman’s uniform —it was the badge of admission to any gathering.

Speaking more particularly to the me bers, Captain McKinney pointed out tin need for the discipline for which the rules of the Association provided. There had to be one man and only one man, in charge of the work when an accident ease was being treated or confusion would be inevitable.

The need for a club-room was stressed by the Commissioner, who snid that it was as necessary a part of the equipment of the public’s ser vice a 1 a fire station. Captain McKinnev also remarked upon the increased efficiency that would .accrue to the Brigade when a number of the qualified members of the Ladies’ Home Nursing Division joined in with the work. The public, would do something in the direction of providing the club-room, and possibly trophies for competitive work among the squads of- the Brigade, as had been done in other centres. “It only needs to become realised that it is being done for the benefit of the whole community, when you will get the public with you,” the Commissioner concluded