Ambulance Work.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 261, 3 December 1903, Page 4

Ambulance Work.

NE'Eli# OF THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS. SUBSIDISED DOCTORS. A conference between the chairman and .secretary of the Hospital Board and members of the St. John's Ambulance Association was held on Tuesday evening. Dr. Home was also present, and the meeting discussed the question of providing a horse amWulance for back country and coastal districts. J-Yom information to hand it was shown that the cost of a conveyance, landed in New Plymouth, would be about £IOO. The delegates therefore coiicidored it inadvisable to recommend the Board to incur that expense at present. Dr. Home also pointed out that it was of the greatest importance that residents of the country should receivQ proper instruction in the rendering of " first aid " incases of need. Provision of a horse ambulance would be useless if the case could not receive intelligent treatment from the lirst.

Members of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade have expressed their wiliiiijgness to go out to country centres and instruct people if they displayed a desire for knowledge of the work. All that, was asked was that the Board pay actual travelling, expenses.

The Chalirnian reported this result to the Hospital Board on Wednesday.

Mr Gray considered the result of the conference unsatisfactory, and believed that doctors were prompted to discount the ambulance scheme, as it might tend to deprive them of occasional country cases. He knew this was a string thing to. say, !bnt he said it in all earnestness. The Board should certainly get an a!mbulaace.

Mr Andrews ,asked if his notice of motion dealing with the question of subsidising doctors for the outlying! districts would como on for consideration. If so he had something to say on the matter, as he did not'believe t!he Amuulance Association would prove the help it was sought to make apparent. Mr Hine agreed, and Mr Liardet spoke strongly on the subjeet, urging that the work of the Association, though carried on with the most laudable object, did not really meet the case. The people who would be most likely to be tailed upon to render aid in case of accident—settlers ' find bushmen —could not afford the time necessary to take an intelligent interest in ambulance work. Therefore, a do-ctor was an absolute necessity. Both m&tjera were deferred till next meeting.