VOLUNTEER SISTERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2748, 17 April 1916, Page 3

VOLUNTEER SISTERS

FULLY EMPLOYED IN EGYPT

LETTER FROM MISS ROUT

Tho following letter has been received by tho Hon. Colonel Allen, Minister of Defence, Wellington, New Zealand, from MissE. A. Bout, secretary of the. Volunteer Sisters:—

Soldiers' Recreation Club. Ezbekia Gardens. Cairo, Maich ]0, 1916,

Dear Colonel Allen, —I am sure you will be glad to hear that the whole of tho fourteen members of the Sisterhood now in Egj-pt are rendering patriotic services herb in different ways, working an average of fifty hours per week each. Six of the womon, viz., Mrs. Leggatt, Airs. Rhind, anc\ Misses Ballantyne,' Rogers, Murch, and Orange—arc doing splendid work at the Y.M.O.A. canteen in Ezbekia Gardens, and I am working here in connection with the Inquiry Bureau for Ne>v Zealand's fallen soldiers. The committee for the Y.M.C-A. in Egypt has written a letter to me expressing their "keen appreciation of the services the Volunteer Sisters have rendered," and tho New Zealand representatives of the Y.M.C.A. now here have reported, to New Zealand that they are "devoutly thankful to have secured the regular assistance of seven members of the Now Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood. Without them we could not possibly have done all we have done for tho soldiers. They have helped us tremendously, and no words of praise are too high to express our admiration of the unselfish, unremitting toil these ladies have cheerfully given day by day in the Ezbekia Gardens." Lady Carnarvon came up from Alexandria this week, and saw mo here, asking for some of our our New Zealand Volunteer Sisters for work-in Alexandria. It.is impossible to spare them from here. One of our women, Miss Mildred Stephens, was placed by Lady Carnarvon in charge of the Military Bestaur'ant en the Alexandria Docks, and she is making a great success of the work. ' Miss Hjggens, of Gisborne, was, through the efforts of Lady Gpdley and Lady Carnarvon, successful iu being appointed lady cookery instructor for soldiers under the British Government. She is doing a grand work at the Carlton School of Cookery, specially established for her. MissKmidsen, Miss Neilson, Miss Sale, and Miss' Wilson are all working hard in Bed Cross hospitals, nursing soldiers. Sister Kerr, of the Gisborne Hospital, is,working in the Kasr-el-aino Hospital, where there have been a great many soldiers. There are none there now; and we will shortly' be completing arrangements for Sister, Kerr to go further afield. This accounts for the whole of the fourteen New Zealand Volunteer Sisters who came out to Egypt. I may also mention that in every case accommodation is provided for us free, and we have, therefore, had to draw very little indeed of the.money which you were kind enough to remit for us.- ■ •

When I cabled for the other women I needed, I got the reply back that Colonel Rhodes had said the New Zealand . Volunteer' Sisters ■ now in Egypt were "not wanted." The kindness and encouragement which Colonel Rhodes bad always shown us convinced me this was quite an incorrect rendering of what he had reported, and I submitted the matter to him. Colonel Rhodes has now instructed his private secretary to inform me, under date March 9, that "Colonel Rhodes cannot account for the statement which is saidi to have, been attributed to him iii New Zealand newspapers, unless it had its origin in a conversation with- the two members of the sisterhood that interviewed him on December 10 last." Possibly the misundertanding has arisen because the volunteer women interviewed Colonel Rhodes a few days after their' arrival here, and then neglected to inform him when they were in full work, which was the case a fort--night after their arrival. I hope later to send to New Zealand a report with regard to tho very fine work New Zealand and other womenare doing voluntarily in various directions here. Aotea particularly is the greatest possible credit to New Zealand. I was greatlv interested in this, because it is the only place where the New Zealand Government has in Egypt employed the services of voluntary assistants to nurses. This country is full of volunteer women sent by other Governments than our own. Tho British V.A.D.'s are allowed £16 per month, plus somo extras for lodging allowances, and in addition get £20 per annum salary- They usually live outside the hospitals, in hotels. I prefer tho arrangement I have made* for the New Zealand Volunteer Sisters' —taking a flat four ourselves, and all livin" together. Thanking you again for the official courtesies.extendcd.-I. am,

New i Zealand Soldiers in English Hos-

pitals. . A large proportion of soldiers in the Southmead Hospital (Bristol, England) are New Zealanders, and any reminders of their country are eagerly looked for and appreciated. The. New Zealand' War Contingent Association (London) has formed a branch of its organisation in Bristol, the members of whom are necessarily all New Zea and.ers, and who visit and look after the .interests of tho. soldiers in hospital. Mrs. J. Dvke-Acland is president' of "tlie committee, and-Miss A. B. Weir lion, secretary aridvtreasurer. <■$$* personnel consists 'wm: ff<™%z : t% rs - di Dyke-Acttnd.- (nee St. Hill, of Havclock North, Hawke's Bay), Mr George Bu - ler (arfistxof 'Dunedin and Wellington), Mrs. Buchanan (nee Adams, of -Auckland); Mr;=and Mrs 0. L. Dearsley (Christeliurch), Mr. Dale Christehurch), Sister -Gill, of Canterbury, and the North Island , Mrs W. Gaw (nee Totman, of Auckland), Mrs. : Shore-Nye (nee Chatfield, of Wellington) Miss Ray (Feilding), Mrs Russell, Smith (nee'Russe 1 of Auckland), Miss Mannering and Ctastehurch) Miss A. \ Weir (Christehurch), Mrs K. Willcox (nee Stuckey, of Opaki and Masterton), Miss Garsnr (of ChrisV church). They also. visit the New Zcalanders in the Bristol Royal Infirmary 'the Beaufort War Hospital, and Bishop Knoll Hospital.