ST JOHN'S AMBULANCE BRIGADE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3005, 16 February 1917, Page 3

ST JOHN'S AMBULANCE BRIGADE

RED CEOSS WORK. In another column will be found tho quarterly statement of receipts and payments of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross Society, whoso work is now carried on in the Star Boating CSub Building, Jervois. Quay. The statement shows that the committee nas received splendid financial .assistance toiva.rds tho carrying out of Red Cross tvork from many quarters. Tie committee would like it to be .known that although the majority of those working at the depot are members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, tho , assistance of anyone,- nialo or female, who desires to do lied Cross'work, trill bo cordially welcomed.

'It will be observed from the receipts and payments that the committee had in hand a balanco of ,£1036 13s. lid., and of this sum it -was resolved " that the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs be nslced to cable to London th,o sum of ,£250 for the purchase of comforts for 6ick and "wounded soldiers returning • to - New Zealand. A letter recently received from lord Banfuvly (Director of the Ambulance Department of the St. John Ambulance, Association) stated that two sums of .£IOO each, previously cabled for the same purpose, had been gratefully received and judiciously expended. - The Petono lied Cross Shop, tho corainittee point out. lias again done exceedingly well, having contributed to the depot funds during tho three months tho splendid sum of .£lB7 ss. 1d.,-which includes the proceeds of the Gear Co.'s picnic- (£23). The best thanks of the committee are extended to those who aro responsible for such excellent assistance The residents and school childrn oi .lolinsonville helped, in various ways, t« swell the fund, and-the hearty thanks of the committee are due to them ami to all those who are. shown* in the statement to have contributed so generously. 3 he value of the equipment, etc., dispatched to various hospitals during the period under review, viz.—November 1, 1916, to January 31, 1917—amounts to approximately £W5. The goods were packed in 64 cases and 57 bales, and tho work entailed in handling and dispatching- such a large, quantity has kept the workers very busy. Since January 31 20 cases and 25 bales of goods, of the value of about .£6OO, have been packed ..nil dispatched. It would .not have been possible for the committee to send away such largo quantities of equipment without the assistance which has been rendered by the

country Red Cross societies, somo 30 of whom send their goods to the depot for dispatch. They have done really excellent work, and the quantity of goods sent in by them continues to increase. In order that all who are interested may understand the position of the brigade, it may be explained that the St. John Ambulance Brigade is a branch of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem the headquarters of which are at St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell, London. The official head of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas is Major-General C. Onlton, late R.A., whose address is also St., John's Gate, London. Each branch is responsible to him, as official head, for its activities in all directions. Prior to the outbreak of war, Lieut.-Col. G. Barclay was the deputy commissioner in charge of the brigade in New Zealand, and upon his departure on active service, Mr. H.. H. Seed was appointed temporarily as assistant commissioner in ciiarge. Mr. Seed is tho chairman of. the St. John Ambulance Brigade and Mod Cross Society Depot Committee., and is also hon. treasurer.

Immediately upon tne outbreak of war, the members of the brigade,' which, has ite- uuits in all the principal towns in i\ew fouiiiiid, automatically became lied Cross workers.' Instructions were received- iron; Headquarters 111 London to collect money and supply hospital requirements. Tftese instructions have been carried out continually since the declaration of war, and both money and. goods have been scut to heado.uaii.ers for distribution aa-i duly acknowledged. luciy j'ekyil, chairman of the St. John Aruiuntace Association warehouse, St. Jobii's fate, London, arranges with regard to tne distribution of tne goods received to the,various hospitals and acts -upon the committee's request that they shall 03 used for the benefit of Now Zea:a/;c sick and wounded.

Kospitai equioment has also been sent to Iky'jrc, to Mesopotamia, and to the Brigsua, Hospital at Etaples, France, wliera many of our New Zealand wounded Lavo been treated, and from which a xsvy appreciative letter, acknowledging receipt of 30 bales of bandages, etc., has rcrtitiy been received.

Tho work done at the Head Depot of the brigade in Wellington is mainly under the supervision of Mrs. Iv. Preston, lady superintendent of the Wellington South Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and Mrs. J.. Peat, lady superintendent of the Wellington North. Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas.*

They are pleased to report that since the reopening of the depot after the Christmas holidays, 14 additional workers have attended at the depot and rendered good service, and they will be pleased to welcome many more, as there is a lot of work to be dono.