AMBULANCE PATROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 593, 20 February 1929, Page 11

AMBULANCE PATROL

IS IT OFFICIALLY AUTHORISED? SUNDAY’S APPEARANCE The enthusiasm of several of the members of the St. John Ambulance Association’s Auckland branch appears to have c'rented trouble in the upper circles of the organisation. It appears that the motor-cycle patrol. which made its opening run On Sunday, was not officially authorised to appear. This situation is the indirect outcome of the recent visit to Auckland of Sir John JTewett. at the head of the delegation representing the Order of St. John. He brought news of a system of road patrols of brigade members now in operation in England. These patrols were doing good and useful work, he said. Although the Auckland branch of the association is loth to make any statement at this juncture, it is evident that the question of establishing road patrols in Auckland was discussed by various members. An official informed The Sun this morning that the proposal emanated from the National Reserve Division, which includes a number of young men who own motor-cycles. These enthusiasts went ahead with their plans and held their opening run on Sunday. They appeared on smartly-equipped cycles and wore the official uniform of the organisation. One of the cycles, shown on a photograph published in The Sun to-day, was distinguished by the sign “Road Patrol No. 1.” The scheme appeared to be in full working order. This morning, however, an inquiry made at the association’s headquarters indicated that the officials there were in ignorance of Sunday’s outing. Moreover, they had not received any official report as to the activities of the patrol. Telephone inquiries were made at once, and it was learned from other officials that the outing was - not backed by any official sanction. / “Such a scheme is ‘in the air,’ but arrangements had not been made, and the members of the patrol should not have set out wearing the uniform without authority,” said The Sun’s informant. “I am afraid there is going to be trouble for someone.” Another high official of the association said that necessary arrangements such as insurance for the patrol members had not been made. A suggestion that the motor-cycles used had been purchased by the association was denied. They belong, it is said, to individual members of the brigade.