Who Collects. Payment To the Editor of the "Nogru-CHiNA Dany News"
Sim,—On October 15 I wrote to the Directeur General des Services Municipaux, 375 Avenue Joffre, re an incident' which had occurred the prepious day and asked him whether the drivers of the French Municipal Council Ambulances were authorized collect a payment of $3, ere they would remove an emergency case ioünd lying, in the streets. Since there hag been no reply to my letter, I feel constrained to make the matter public.
The incident was as follows: About roon on October 14, an old Russian gentleman was writhing in agony on the pavement slant across from the Cathay Theatre on Avenue Joffre. A bystander informed me that an am-balance had already been telephoned for. After about ten minutes, a French Municipal Council Ambulance appealed, but drove on a block or so, although it was, beyond my comprehension how the driver or his assistant could fail to see the crowd. On his return the former demanded $3. Since no one came forward and the old gentleman was moaning pi-teensly, I took charge. The- driver end his assistant unceremoniously picked up the sick man and strapped him down on the stretcher in the ambulance. The driver very rudely ordered me to get in. Naturally I did, If only a trained nurse or some competent person had accompanied the ambulance, some help could have been rendered the patient, who struggled hard to sit vp. All I could do was to have him unstrapped and support him alone—not an easy task for a woman of a hundred odd pounds. At the Russian Orthodox Confraternity it was ascertained that the old gentleman was suffering from a heart attack. He is an inmate of the Russian Men's Shelter. The driver waited for me at the hospital and demanded that I should pay the am-balance fee. As it seemed incredible io me that he had any authority to do this, we went to the French Police Station, corner Avenue Joffre and Rue Pottier. On hearing my story, the inspector told me I could leave, but detained the driver, when the latter started after me.
it would be of interest to know whether the driver of that French Municipal Council Ambulance had been instructed to demand in advance the fee for its use.
I would like to bring this matter to the notice of the Joint Committee of Shanghai Women's Clubs. Iam no longer a member of it, but I feel sure that Mrs. John Barr, a sorority sister, will see with her usual energy that justice is done.
Shanghai, Oct, 26. 2
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.