PASSENGER-NURSES ON THE MAHENO

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2676, 24 January 1916, Page 3

PASSENGER-NURSES ON THE MAHENO

» REPLY TO COMPLAINTS. Colonel AV. E. Collins, N.Z.M.C., who was in charge of the hospital ship Maheno, has written the following letter to the Defence Minister regarding certain complaints made as to the treatment of nurses who were carried as passengers on Wie ship to Egypt. The gravamen of the charges, which were set out in the columns of a local paper, were that they were not supplied with cabins, that no stewardesses were carried on board, and that they were compelled to go to the galley for their own food. Says Colonel Collins:—"I was very much surprised to read of alleged complaints mado by the passenger nurses on the Maheno during her first voyage to the Mediterranean. It is quite true Wo could not supply them with cabins, nor did wo carry stewardesses on board; but everything was done to make them as comfortable as possible. They were given their choice of light, airy wards, and orderlies were provided from the personnel to attend to their needs. Many of 1 them were sick at first, but those who were not were quite willing to attend to their sick comrades, and orderlies wore provided to wait upon them in the saloon at table. "It has been said that they were compelled to go to the galley for their own food. That statement is incorrect, and the probability is that not one of them knows where the galloy_ on the Maheno is situated. They possibly refer to the serving pantry in the corner of the saloon, where sis waiters were provided for serving purposes. If nurses were in a hurry to obtain a second helping they rose from the table, walked about five yards, and received from the pantryman what they desired. My quartermaster invariably attended the passenger nurses' mess, - and never heard any complaints from them. At the end of the voyage they appeared to be sorry to leave the ship, and when it became, necessary to select from 'their number sisters to remain on board there was no difficulty in getting them. "In regard to deck accommodation, tho passenger nurses were given the use of all the deck space, with the exception of a small portion near the orderly office, and aft as far as the No. 4 hold on the starboard side. "Finally, it might bo pointed out that the passenger nurses were on active service, and receiving pav as such. "(Signed) W. E. COLLINS, Col."