A GREAT RESPONSE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 33, 14 December 1943, Page 5

A GREAT RESPONSE

ST. JOHN ANNUAL APPEAL

FRIDAY'S CAMPAIGN

The Whakatane branch of the St. John Ambulance Association inaugurated its campaign for its proposed new hall by collecting no less than £103 last Friday on. the occasion of its annual appeal. Throughout the day the motor ambulance was on show in the Square with members of the Brigade in attendance describing and illustrating the methods of lilting and transporting the injured or .siel< persons who may be using it as passengers in the future. In the evening the Boys Band once again showed its desire to be of practical service by playing itf the Square and provided a bright and, lively programme of selected mus'ics, The public according to the collectors generally gave liberally and there were few if any refusals. The actual net result was that Whakatane raised £90 4s and Ohope £12. on the day with a promise of mora to* come. In a statement to the press the president of the local Association, Mr A. J. Canning, Stated that the aim of the committee to build up a fund wherewith to buildi a hall was now fully established and he hoped it would not be long before it was fully realised; The Whakatane branch was responsible for a wide district including, most of the centres in the Whakatane County and it therefore became the duty of all industrial Establishments to afford' it the assistance which was its due. The need for a headquarters hall was vital to the local movement in that it was growing almost dailv and 1 had to maintain all sections of its various branches such as the brigade itself, the cadets, Home Nursing and' lecture officers. The acquisition of a halil had become essential to the association's welfare and he therefore appealed to all sections of the community to assist towards this end.

HONOUR TO BRIGADE SIR HEATOX RHODES VISIT The fact that the Whakatane ■ district is so notoriously short of medical practitioners furnishes another reason for the urgent need' of a first-class St John Ambulance unit and the fact that we are fortunate in possessing such an organisation imposes a definite responsibility upon the public of this district to see that it is properly equipped and maintained in their own interests. The. recant visit of Sir I-leaton Rhodes, Knight Commander of the Order of St. John and Dominion President of the Red Cross Society, made this very apparent when he spoke at the gathering tendered him by the local branch of the St. John Association. Accompanying him on that occasion'were Mr C. S. Falconer, Joint Secretary of the Joint Council of St. John and the X.Z. Red Cross Society,, and. Mr Keith Falconer. Dominion Secretary of the N.Z. Commandcry of the St John Order and Mr S. E. Langstonc, Secretary of the Auckland, St. John Ambulance Association. The vis'it of such high ranking officers is regarded as a great honour by the members of the Whakatane branch who took the opportunity of. seeking guidance and advice upon policy and i,ranch ma. ters. Mr A. J. Canning, president of the Whakatane Association, presided at a complime.ntarj' tea tendered, the visitors and later at the formal welcome in the Borough Council Chambers. Mr C. S. Falconer gave a very lucid. description of the wevk of the Order and enlarged on its remarkable grow Lh from the outset.' He was given an attentive' hearing and accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation. The distinguished visitors made themselves very much at home, with tiie local members and the meeting closed on a happy informal vote.