REQUEST DECLINED

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20270, 12 August 1937, Page 6

REQUEST DECLINED

HELP FOR AMBULANCE. HOSPITAL BOARD’S DECISION. FINANCE NOT AVAILABLE. Following a request from the Direc-tor-General of Health, received at today’s meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board, asking that the board should extend financial assistance to the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association for the erection of an ambulance station in Hamilton, it was decided that the board was not justified, in making any grant at present. This decision will be conveyed to the minister in the following resolution, carried unanimously:— “That the Director-General of Health be advised that as the board's finances are fully committed during the present financial year, also that there are several items of additional expenditure to be met not provided for In the estimates, the board regrets it cannot see its way to contribute towards the cost of an ambulance station in Hamilton during the current financial year.”

“ The Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association,” wrote the Director-General, “recently made representations to the Minister for financial assistance towards the erection of a new ambulance station at Hamilton on a site in Ward Street, donated by the Hamilton Borough Council.

“ It appears that at present the am- ! bulances are garaged at the residences I of the drivers but that this accommoI dation will not continue to be avail- ■ able. The association, it is slated, has collected over £IOOO towards the cost of a building, wh’cb is est'mated to cost £3OOO and which is to house three ambulances and provide accommodation for two drivers. Facilities are also included for Instruction of persons in first-aid. “ The department Is advised that in reply to its anplicat-'on to the board for assistance towards the cost of the work, no funds are available. j Hospital Board’s Function. I “As the board will be aware, the rendering of assistance of this nature [ is regarded as a function of hospital 1 Boards and in fact their funds provide the only source from which a grant could be made from publio money for the purpose. The provision of an ambulance service is, moreover, the responsibility of hospital boards and 1 have no doubt that Hie service maintained by the St. John Ambulance Association towards which the board, is contributing this year £6OO results in a considerable saving to the board's funds. “ The department would be glad if further consideration could be given to this matter and a measure of assistance granted toward the cost of providing the necessary ambulance station.” “ Tiie St. John Ambulance Association, as stated by the Director-Gen-eral, approached us once before for assistance and. we declined as wo had not then sufficient funds to warrant a grant. We have even less now,” said the chairman, Mr. J. J. Ryburn, “we have treated the association very liberally, and very fairly, r think, in the agreement made with them a few years ago. Then we agreed to grant them £SOO a year towards Ihe maintenance of the service, though previously the cost to Ihe board had been about £450. Last year, we raised the annual grant, to £6OO and before we had also agreed to house the ambulances, free of charge, for 12 months. The latter arrangement lias since been extended to two years in order to give the association time to erect a station.” Value Recognised. It was all very well for Ihe department to ask tiie board to contribute further, but funds simply would not permit of it. The department had even asked the board to reduce its estimates this year and that had been impossible. Wages increases would also mean substantial additions to the board’s expenditure. There was no question of the value of the service to Ihe community rendered by the St. John Ambulance Association. to which both Mr. Ryburn and Mr. F. Findlay paid tribute, and though assistance was impossible this year next year’s board would have an opportunity of again considering the matter. “ I*f we had the monev.” said Mr. Ryburn, “ I would certainly be in favour of a grant being made.”