ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 23, 27 July 1945, Page 4

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

ESTIMABLE WORK DONE

WEED OF WORTHY HOME

The work and services of the brigade had been thoroughly maintained during the past year, said his Excellency I the Knight-Commander (Sir Cyril Newall), at the annual meeting of the Commandery-Chapter of the Order of St. John in Wellington this week, and the demand for first aid had increased and had been met. The Grand Prior in England made special mention of the number of badges which had been earned by cadets in New Zealand. The ambulance services had given faithful and continuous service of a high order; instruction of the public in first aid had continued to the benefit of the community; district nursing services and the Women's St. John committee had done magnificent work. The Voluntary Aids had, as usual, done splendid work, 350 served overseas and 1500 served in hospitals in New Zealand. The work of the Order in the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the N.Z. Red Cross Society had done estimable and grand work for the soldiers/sailors, and airmen. His Excellency thanked all officers and members of the brigade and the association for all they had done in the past year. Speaking of the future, his Excel^ lency referred to the importance of fostering the cadet movement, upon which future success must depend, and said that there were two other particular activities in which there were outstanding opportunities: the district nursing services and the ambulance services. In the general trend of activities.in these directions there was tremendous scope for the order. His Excellency suggested that the order should look ahead and see what could be done about establishing , a headquarters in Wellington more m keeping with the dignity and importance of the order and its work m the life of the community. That need not necessarily come at once,' and would probably take some time to find, but if they were going to expand in the district nursing and ambulance services they should have a proper headquarters in the Capital City.