ST, JOHN AMBULANCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1433, 7 May 1912, Page 6

ST, JOHN AMBULANCE.

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR, ANNUAL MEKTIXG OF THE CEXTR-E. The annual general meeling of the St. .Tohn Anibulanco Association was hold last night in (lie Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. There were some 300 people present. Mr. J. G. W. A,itkon, one of tho vice-presidents, occupied the chair, in the absence of the president, his Excellency, Lord Islington. The Annual Report. Moving tiie adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, tho chairman said that the association had had a very successful year. There, had been 'better years, but the association had been in existence for a long time now, and there must be slight ebbs and flows. When one ■ remembered that there had been JOS students tnkinp instruction in first aid and home nursing, one could imagine how great an iuliueiice for good in the community the St. .John Ambulance Association was. The Saturday collection had not mot with such a generous response ns in former years, but tho association Imd been so successful in tho past that there were now competitors in the field rontin-? fo raise money by street collections, and last year the Ambulance Association had been (he third party to make appeal to tlio public. He paid a high tribute to the work of the two nursing sisters who went among tho poor of the ci!v on missions of mercy. These nurses had paid during the year 2881 visits, or about 12 visits day. Also 118 people had received first aid at the hands of members of the Ambulance Brigade, so that this institution did a very useful work. Mr.-D. M'Laren (Mayor of Wellington) seconded tho motion; He commended most cordlallv the work the association was doing, both'in supplying nurses for the benefit, of the sick poor, and in instructing men and women in tho art of relieving the pain of thoso injured by accident, lie hoped that next year the association would meet with more generous financial support. Tilo adoption of the report was agreed to without further discussion. Presentation of Certificates, The awards for 1911 were then announced, and the chairman presented the certificates of merit won. Tim first name called was that of Mrs. Foster, now in charge of the Petone Home Nursing Division of the association. She had been engaged in this work for years in Yorkshire, it was stated, and the English authorities of the Order had sent out to her a Vellum Vote of Thanks for work dune in England. A Vellum Vote of Thanks was also presented fo Mr. C. P. Powk-5. Similar awards had been made to Mr. Gold, first stntioimia.ster at the Mnnawatu Station, and to Mr. Pollock, who was subsequently ill charge of Manawatu Station, but neither of these was present to rc-ceivo tho documents. About two hundred other labels, medallions, vouchers, and certificates were presented. Mr. G. Sandham received, on behalf of tho Wellington Brigade, the silver cup won in competition with other brigades at Christchurch. The Committee. Mr. .T. Smith commented upon the value of ambulanco work generally, and hoped it would next year make good progress. Ho thought, instruction in ambulance work might with advantage bo combined with military training. He moved that the following constitute the committee of the centre for tho incoming vear:—Mesdames S. A. Rhodes, A. 11. Waters, J. P. Firth, A. A. Corrigaii, Barltrop, J. P. Luke, H. W. Preston, L. Mensics, Miss L. Coates, Miss Hel.ver, Messrs. C. P. Powles, F. S. Whitcombe, K Balcombe Brown, H. H. Seed, G. A. Troup, J. Besant, W. 11. Fisher, D. Tripe, 11. W. Sefton Moorliouse, and Dr. Anderson, i Practice and More Speeches. A display of ambulanco work was given by members of' the brigade and the Wellington Nursing Division, First aid work was dono by the brigado men, and tho nursing division showed how more permanent bandages were put on at a hospital with materials not usually available on the scene of the accident. Dr. Agnes Bennett spoke ot ambulance work, particularly from the point of view of a medical practitioner. She nomu'eiided all branches of ambulance work' and said that the brigade and tho nursing division in Wellington were both highly efficient. Dr Cameron, who was next called upon bv tho chairman, placed a very high v-lue on the work of tho association. He was sure thai the knowledge of first aid WFS spreading into the country, where in the past ignorance of ambulance work hid caused needless suffering n.nd even lo=s of life. He moved that a, hearty vote of thanks bo accorded to the chairm"\r'chdcf!Con Harper seconded the motion and spoke briefly in support of it. The chairman acknowledged tho vote, and announced that tho collection taken in during the meeting had amounted li Jo 13s. lOjd,