HONOURING THE NURSES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2665, 10 January 1916, Page 6

HONOURING THE NURSES

A PLEASANT LITTLE FUNCTION. _A number of grey-uniformed nurses who are proceeding to the front, in-P-i . three of those who were oil the ill-rated Marquette when that steamer was torpedoed, were entertained at morning tea in the Parliamentary Library on Saturday morning. Tlio Hen. t. Bussell (Minister of Public Health) presided at an informal little tunction, in tho course of which the Marquette nurses were presented with nursing badges to replace those lost in tlie disaster,' Mr. llussell (Minister for Hospitals) spoke of the way in which tho war had displayed to the world many of the finer characteristics of the British race, arid none finer than the womanly qualities which were the pride of our nation —especially of the women of Now Zealand.; He congratulated the Marquette survivors upon their escape, and upon the heroism and courage they had displayed in having asked, to bo allowed to go forward again as soon as possible. He wished to say that all those who wero sent out were highly qualified and experienced nurses, and under Colonel Valintine and Miss Maclean the most careful selection had been made. It was due to this that the high standard of the nursing which, had' characterised our nursing representatives had been maintained. 'The Hon. James Allen (Defence Minister) expressed the pride ho felt at the fact that among those present wero survivors of tlio Marquette disaster. He wished all the nurses God-speed in their good work. He was justified in saying that the work already done had been excellent. He did not know that there wero any better nurses than those whom New Zealand) had given. He did not say this to flatter, but rather to point out that there were high ideals to live up to. It was to bo hoped that out of the war would come some good to the Empire, and especially to New Zealand. After the war we would have traditions behind us and ideals to live up to. The Hon. W. Fraser and Dr Valintine also added 1 their tribute, and the gathering then sang a verso of the National Anthem.. " .