AMBULANCE FUNCTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 829, 30 May 1910, Page 9

AMBULANCE FUNCTION.

ADDRESS TO HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON BRANCH COMMENDED. !By Telegraph—Press Association.) Ghristchurch, May 29. Mr. Gow, president of tho St. John Ambulance Association in New Zealand, presented' tho certificates won by local candidates last night. An address from four of the centres was also presented to his Excellency. In reply, Lord Plunket said that the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England were watching the rapid progress of tho ambulanco branch in the Dominion with prido and satisfaction, and lie believed lie was correct in stating that, iu no part of tlio Empiro was the association so much in evidence, or doing hotter work than in New Zealand. Ho thanked the association siiicoroly for their good wishes, and ho trusted thai; additional prosperity and a wider sphero of usefulness might be the lot of' tho association in tho city and throughout New Zealand. He most deeply appreciated. the thoughtfulness which had prompted tho different centres of tho association to unito in presenting him with an address before ho left New Zealand. He had taken a very deep interest in tho association out here, and it had always been a source of pride to him to realise from year to year how the branches were, advancing in usefulness. It was naturally a very great satisfaction to him before he went away to realise' that tho different centres hail appreciated tho interest which lie had taken. He. thought,. if .ho might bo allowed to say so, that it would ho an excellent thing to attempt to follow the Wellington branch of the association. A lady there, Mrs. Rhodes; had done absolute wonders in tho work of tho_ nursing branch, and sho had been assisted by a committee- full of tho same enthusiasm as herself. Two nurses and sometimes three wero working among tho poor, and were doing work that was bringing great honour to tho association. He would like, if it wero possible, that every branch of the association throughout New Zealand should have one or two nurses attached to it doing somowhat similar work. Ho knew that, in sonio places, other associations were carrying out practically tlio sanie work, ( and he would not for a moment suggest any interference with •ithti associations. Still, wherever it was possible to assist the sick pcor, as was being done iu Wellington, that should be part of the work of 'the association in every district. He did not, however, wish to discredit tho excellent worlc which the branches wero already doing in the way of giving first aid, anil other lectures, and issuing certificates to qualified candidates. He was particularly pleased to'have the opportunity of presenting the certificates that evening. Ho had signed a largo number of tho association's certificates, and he tcallv did think that tlic Cliristehurch branch had, during the last year or so, given him more to than the whole of New Zealand put together. (Applause.)