ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 4

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

ITS WORK IN WELLINGTON, HOSPITAL CO-OPERATION, The annual meeting of the Wellington Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association was held in tho Sydney Street Schoolroom last night. There was a largo attendance. The lion. It. Heaton Rhodes, Postmaster-General and Minister for Public Health, presided, and there were also on tho plailorm Dr. Plaits-Mills, Dr. Bowerbank, Messrs. O. P. Powles (chairman of cominitteo of the Wellington Centre), and J. G. W. Aitken. Apologies for absence wero received.from the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), Mrs. S. A. Rhodes, and Mr. E. Balcombe-Brown. Tho Hon. Heaton Rhodes, in moving tho adoption of the report and balancesheet (already published in The Dominion), said that as Minister for Public Health it was his duty to keep in touch with such institutions as the St.' John Ambulance Association, Ho was a member of the association, and so far as its work was concerned, he sometimes asked himself whether it would not be possible to extend the usefulness of such associations. As a member of the association, ■he thought it nico to be independent, but, speaking as Minister for Public Health, it seemed to him they might co-operate with other authorities. It had been suggested to him that tho St. John Ambulance Association might undertake the transport not only oi the injured, but of the sick, in that way they wotild be working in ; with the hospital authorities, and earning a subsidy. The credit balance of the association was larger this year than last, but he was certain that with greater funds at their disposal they could increase their work, and the subsidy gained by carrying out transit work for the hospital would materially help. They all knew the useful work carried out by tp9 St. John Ambulance Association in New Zealand and other parts of the world. It was very marked during the Coronation of King George, at Which the speaker was present, and on all occasions when there were big gatherings in London. He congratulated the association on the number of pupils attending its classes.

Mr. C. P. Powlcs seconded tho adoption of the Tcport and balancc-shtefc They rrere hoping, ho said, in time to have a building where the officers and nurses could b9 in attendance and where instruction could be given. They had nearly .£6OO set aside tor that purpose. Comon the work done b}- the association, Mr. Powles said it was pleasing to note that up to March 31, 1913, tho number of men who had completed a course of instruction sinoe tho foundation of the centre was 3614, and the number who had received certificates 2377. Tho number of women who had completed a course was 27G2, and those who had received certificates totalled 1695, for first aid, and 859 for homo nursing, while 196 men and 305 women had received medallions. Mr. Rhodes then presented the awards for 1912, including 17 labels and 34 medallions. The following were elected to the general committee:—MeSdanies J. P. Luke, G, W. Barltrop, A. A. Corrigan, H. W. Proston, A. H. Waters, Miss E. Helyer, Messrs, C. P. Powles, W. B. Fisher, J. Bcsant, D. Tripe, G. A. Troup, H. H. Seed, and j. Nicol. A number of interesting "first aid" cases were dealt with by members of the Order. The patients were treated on the platform, and as their supposed injuries were attended to, Dr. Platts-Mills and Dr. Bowerbank explained the work bein£ carried out. Bandages wero put on jn an expeditious manner, and tho whole treatment of the patients reflected great credit on those giving the demonstrations. Dr. Bowerbank, at the conclusion of tho demonstrations, spoke in reference to the value of examinations, which should be considered very important in ambulance work, as in other subjects. The standard was high in Now Zealand, but the students came out very well. . The proceedings concluded with a voto of thanks to tho chairman.