“Taranaki Central Press” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1937. ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 352, 5 February 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1937. ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE.

In an interview reported on this page, a local St. John Ambulance enthusiast comments on the apathy of local people towards the work of the Brigade. The organisation is suffering because the public will not realise the valuable work it carries out.

There is a touch of pathos generally in the atttitude of the New Zealand public towards the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Most people know it only as an organisation which supplies atttendants at football matches, and whenever first-aid services are required, the ambulance man rushes on to the field to the accompaniment of derisive shouts of “Zam Buk." That may be a tribute to the influence of modern advertising, but it is hardly a fair attitude towards a voluntary organisation which serves the vital interests of the public.

Stratford ambulance brigadesmen suffer an additional disadv antage. Not only are they derided by the crowd “en masse,” but also they are disregarded by the more stable members of the community who could, but do not, give valuable support to ambulance work.

Financially the local sectio n of the Brigade exists on dona - tions from a few sports bodies to which it renders regular service. Its only other source of maintena nee is the enthusiasm of its few members, and enthusiasm can easily be lost when the fight is always against odds.

There is no need for us to discourse at length upon the Brigade’s work. Our purpose is merey to give our support and to try in our small way to jolt the feelings of our readers into a state of interest. We have commented in other issues upon the lack of cultural organisations in Stratford. Let us now add anothe deficiency which is apparent the lack of interest in those voluntary organisations which are, consequently, forced to fight for their very existence to serve the public which witholds its support.

There is no room to-day for any smug complacency on the part of any community. Selfishness is a characteristic which should not be evident in present-day society. Yet, here in Stratford, an organisation of which service to others is its only aim, is likely to founder upon the rock of public apathy. Apathy is only another word for selfishness, and we have no hesitation in saying that the Stratford public is showing an extremely selfish spirit towards not only the St. John Ambulance Brigade, but also to other similar bodies which struggling daily for their continued existence.

If these organisations were in themselves selfish and narrow in constitution and ideals, they would not be worthy of Public support. But their doors are wide open and their objects are high in purpose. Where, then, are the generous-minded citizens who will, if only by personal interest, come forward to back the work of those who voluntarily set out to perform a public service?