FREE AMBULANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 9 October 1933, Page 2

FREE AMBULANCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Would you allow me space to express my feelings in regard to the Palmerston North Eree Ambulance attending race meetings and leaving the people who subscribe to either wait, or call the Hospital Ambulance to help them to the Hospital. I have noted the absence of the Free Ambulance these days when races are on at Otaki, Foxton, Ashhurst, etc. Nov r , sir, is this considering the need of the public or the racing clubs as I am under the impression that the racing clubs own their own ambulance? But why leave it idle and pay £2 2s to use the Free Ambulance? The people who are expected to pay their monthly subscriptions are left to use whatever they like or v'ait until the races are finished and told the ambulance is out, and I know' this to be a fact. At Monday night’s meeting of the Free Ambulance the report mentioned nothing about the races or that the ambulance would be at Otaki, and as this is a public organisation surely we are entitled to know' if the ambulance is going out for the day; then w'e can immediately ring the Hospital. Ho the committee know' of this? I feel sure they do and surely it is only fair to let the public know'. In case of a serious accident many minutes would be saved and perhaps mean saving a life, and this to my mind, sir, is very important. Furthermore, sir, why so much hush hush business, and why are our Press reporters not allowed to be present to know and give us a full report? Then w'e, as subscribers at least, get a little knowledge of where our money is going, and w'ho are doing the job for us. Let us take an urgent case —say the removal of a person who has paid his monthly subscription. As soon as he desires to use the ambulance, for which he has paid in advance, be finds that he is compelled to' use tfie Hospital ambulance, and all his past subscriptions would have paid the account which he may get. Sir, I don’t want your readers to think that I am opposed to the principle of the Free Ambulance as it is a fine organisation if conducted on its principle —for the people, by the people, and an effective service, but if it is allowed to go to race meetings and leave the people alone then it’s evidently for the race meetings and not the people, and cannot serve two places at once, and if the Press reporters w’ere allowed at the monthly meeting of the Free Ambulance the same as at the council meetings we should at least get a full account of what was being done and by whom these things were done.— Yours, etc., CITIZEN NO. 8.