I hear it's time for St John Ambulance to go fundraising….what does it take for the public to demand that the Government fully funds this essential service just like the Police force and stop this Mickey Mouse tax scam that some people think is clever stuff with a charity?

The lady in charge of the Wellington Ambulance Service said she was sick of shaking a bucket for funds. As a past volunteer for 15 years, to be told in a newspaper that volunteers save the Government $50 million a year…is that what volunteers are supposed to be used for?

Charges for an ambulance turning up should not exist, do you pay the Police a fee when they arrive to fix a problem? No.

Look around and you will see see mega advertising for some to get vaccinated, food inducements or handouts… This Government can spend $1 billion on such, but cannot fund a paramedic doing his job to save someone's life? Often they are attacked for doing so... So where is the ‘be kind' funding from our so-called leaders? New Zealand deserves better than this separatism nonsense. Letter abridged.

R Chamberlain, Otumoetai.