LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2364, 21 January 1915, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TRENTHAM HOSPITAL AND ST. JOHN AMBULANCE,

. Sir, —It is with very grout satisfaction I have read letters from "Leo" and "Red Cross" in your two recent issues of Tun Dominion. "Leo" voices the opinion of most people who have given any serious thought to tho care oi our sick and wounded troops. There is great and .urgent noed for a base hospital at Trentham, and if there is need for a hospital, is there not also need for skilled nursing ? I do not wish to detract from thoso willing orderlies, who in all cases, I am sure, do their best, but their best cannot compare with a hospital-trained nurse, or even a well-trained' ambulance nurse sister. I hold that our troops should have the best nursing procurnblo, and none but competent nurses should have the care of them. Failing hospital nurses, then let the nursing sisters of St. John do tho work they have trained for. There aro numbers of trained nurses leaving New Zealand for the front at their own expense, because the powers that be will not allow them to give their services-for their own men. I know of one nurse who would give her services freely, but the misfortune of being a woman prevents her serving her country in • the way she is most fitted: .No doubt there are others.

"Bed Cross" writes of the work that members of the St. John Ambulance have done, and are doing, and 6ays they have not done "one-fourth of what they ought to do. Surely "Red Cross" must know the battle the heads of the different divisions in Wellington have to tight to obtain even a courteous recognition. Ever since the war began the two Wellington Divisions of Nursing bisters havo done a huge amount of wo ™ ln connection with the equipment of the troops, and also in contributions of money and clothing for -.he Bick and wounded at the front. Then tho need for the base hospital at Trentham is brought before them. Some are found willing to collect. Application is made to the Racing Club for permission to collect at the races on Wednesday, but the answer is "Decidedly not." It was our one chance of raisin? a sum that would help materially towards establishing the hospital so badly needed. It j S0 ?™ the ann,l! >l Ambulance Saturday. The niggardliness of the Welling«olLp,7 ,ls a 8 co!os sal as the uphill £ i? e asß <>ci»tion. Some say wo should not charge for the use of the brougham. We only do to those who are able to pay. I would remind them that although we belong to a very ancient order, we have not the power to strike money out of a rock.—l am etc., ' A NUR*SING SISTER OF ST. JOHN.