AMBULANCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16726, 8 January 1920, Page 6

AMBULANCE.

i CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. j | T NITY OF CONTROL. j A conference of representatives of • centres of tho St. John Ambulance As- ; yieiation and >t. John Ambulance liri- | gade districts in New Zealand was held jat tho Officers' Club, in Wen-ester j street, yesterday afternoon. His ExivlI, lencv the Oovernor-CJeneral presided, i and the following delegates were prvI seat: —Canterbury: Miss Munro. Lieut.Colonel C. J. Creswell, Captain W. W. McKinncy, anil Mr C. J. Treleaven; Dunedin: Colonel A. K. Falconer, Colonel G. Barclay, Major W. Fleming, and Captain J. E. Bone: Wellington: Mrs Waters, Miss Robertson, and j Mo.N-rs H LI. Seed, and J. T>. Findlay. •Sir Heaton Rhodes. M.P.. and Mr W. B. Fisher were also present. Tile commit tee submitted a report sui.!L:osting the appointment of a Dominion Executive* to deal with joint i organisation. j His Excellency enquired as to the position of controlling committees for ambulance work nnd Red Cross work, lie had l>ecn instructed by the Sovereign to issue letters patent, to continue the combined work, as in the pa.-:. Mr Treleaven said that in Christchurch there was a distinct committee attending to Rod Cro=s work, and that, some members of that committee were also members of tho St. John Ambulance. Committee. Ilis Excellency said that he did not' think there should l>e two bodies, one perhaps working contrary to the joint, organisation. Mr Treleaven pointed out- that, one j committee was not running contrary to tho joint organisation, but that the two committees were working separately, with no competition between them. * It was decided to form a Dominion I Executive, to be constituted as follows: Chairman, Diroctor of die Ambulance Department; vice-chairman, officer in charge of the Brigade in New Zealand; momber«. chairman of tho Centre in each district or his representative, officer in charge of Brigade in each district or his representative, one other delegate to represent ltcd Cross workers from each district. The committee submitted that it would be more in the interests of the organisation if tho two branches of tho Ambulance Department were under one exeontivo in cach centre, except as concerning the brigado in matters of technical detail. Colonel Falconer said that in Dnnedin there was a strong demand for unison in local work. In order to have a strong organisation, there must be uniformity in policy. There wero cert iin questions in which the two departments had a common object, and joint control was desirable. In reply to his Excellency, _ Colonel Falconer said that reports dealing with details of routine should bo sent to the departments separately. Replying to a question from Captain MeKinney, his Excellency said that the policy for the Ambulance Departments would be decided on by the Dominion Executive. Captain MeKinney said that he approved of that, but that he was afraid that if the local executives tried to dictate nolicies thero would be trouble. It was decided that all matters concerning tho Association and Brigade, except technical matters, should l>e dealt with by tho Central Executive in each district, under tho direction of the Dominion Executive. Tho following resolutions were also carried: — "That his Excellency tho GovernorGeneral of New Zealand for tho time being bo a patron and head of the Order in tho Dominion of New Zealand, and ex officio a member of the Dominion Executive." "That his Excellency be asked to appoint Colonel the Hon. Sir Hcaton Rhodes, K.8.E., T.D., a Director of the AmKulanco Department in Now Zealand." "That when the time is opportune the New Zealand Executive meet the Joint Committee of the Red Cross Society and Order of St. John and endeavour to form a basis for fnturo work in New Zealand, to prevent overlapping and regarding tho provision of funds." "That it be a recommendation that his Excellencv the Governor-General apply to St. .John's Gate to establish a priory in New Zealand." "That a convener be appointed to call tho Dominion Executive together.'' "That an Organising Committee, with headquarters in Wellington, be set up by the Dominion Executive, to deal with tho general work -of the Association. nnd to be responsible to the Dominion Executive." "That the Organising Committee be empowered to deal with the question of applying for a Government subsidy." His Excellency said that, he looked forward to seeing very good and useful wcrk accomplished under the new conditions On tbo motion of Colonel Creswell, seconded by Mr Fisher, a vote of thanks was accorded his Excellency for presiding.