NURSES' MEMORIAL FUND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3026, 13 March 1917, Page 2

NURSES' MEMORIAL FUND

OUR NATIONAL DEBT. There will bo many peoplo in Wellington and elsowhere who will bo glad to hoar that a. movement has beon inaugurated under tlio patronage of Hor Excellency tho Countess of Liverpool to recognise in a practir.nl way tho splendid work of our nurses by tho creation of a fund, tlio income from which would be devoted to the relief of. trained nurses who, through sickness, old age, or misfortune, require help. A tentative movo in this direction was made shortly after the torpedoing of the Marquette, as it was then thought that suoh a fund wo\ild bo very helpful and very fitting as some slight recognition of their work; but it was considered in 60me directions that tlio time was not yet quite ripe.

Up to tho present time twelve nurses have lost their lives through their devotion to duty, and every nurso who leaves these scores knows that tlio possibility lies before lier of tho same call being made upon her that has been mado upon our men. The nurses who have gone on active service know the tragedy of war; we in New Zealand, save for a somwhat small proportion, do not, and for that reason alono we can surely find it in our hearts to do something for those who are bearing 60 long, so dreadful, so unceasing a strain as are our nurses.

It is considered that the best means of giving effect to this desire is _to form an assocation for the _ Dominion whose duty it will be to raise a fund for this purpose. To this end committees are being formed in the principal centres of the Dominion to secure members of an organisation in whose hands shall be placed the administration of the fund. It is intended that tho capital fund shall not be nsed for grants, but that it shall go on accumulating from year to year, and from the fixed annual income assured from tho investment of the fund grants shall be mads to deserving members of tho nursing profession whoso cases are _ bronght under the notice of the committee. It is proposed to invest tho money collected in <1 war loan, and so help the prosecution of the war. . It is intended that the committee shall, as far as possiblo, include representatives of tho four provincial districts of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago and Southland, although other districts of the Dominion may bo represented on tlje committee at "the discretion of the subscribers. Meanwhile this appeal is being issued by the Preliminary Committee which lias taken the matter in hand. It asks the people of the Dominion to once moro show that fine appreciation of objects worthy and deserving of support which has been so strongly manifested throughout New Zealand's history. Donations may bo sent to anv of the following members of the Preliminary Committee: —AVellington: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Lnko), Lady Stout," Mrs. T. H. Lowrv (Okawa, Hawkc's Bay), Dr. G. W. Hart.v, Dr. Hardwick Smith. Dr. William Young, Messrs. W. E. Bethune, William Forguson. A. E. Pearce, L. O. 11. Tripp, His Worship tho Mayor of Now Plymouth (Mr. Charles. Burgess). ..Mrs.. Bloxall (Feikling),- Miss Maclean, Deputy Registrar of Nurses, . Mrs. Fred. Nathan (Palmorston North). Mrs. Studholmo (Ruamii). Mrs. Barton (Feilding), Mrs. • Walter Johnston (Awahuri). Mr. W. Pollard (Blenheim), Mrs. Dillon (Ronwicktown), Mrs. Suisted (Wanganui). Dr. W. Yoimg (Wellington) is receiving subscriptions for tho fund on behalf of tho Wellington Committee. Christchurch: Mrs-. Gieorge Rhodes, Mrs. A. C. Sandston, Dr. William Irving, Dr. L. S. Manning. Tnvorcargill: Miss Ewart (matron of tho Southland 1-Tosnital), Dr. ,T. 6. Macdonald, Dr. C. B. Snow,- Dr. James Young, Messrs. R. A. Anderson, A. F. Hawke, W. D. Hunt. Dunedin: His Worship tho Mayor (Mr. J. J. Clark), Miss Thomson (Stafford Hospital), Dr. H. Lindo Ferguson, Dr. R.ussell Ritchie, Messrs. Peter Barr, James Begg (Mosgiel), C. P. M. Butterworth. C. W. Chamberlain. M. Cohen, G. Fenwick, William C. Macgrogor, J. C. M'Georgo, W. T. Monkman, C. W. Rattray, C. Russell Smith.

Tho members of the Women's National Reserve, Wanganui, havo been ver.v busily engaged helping with haymaking and thinning out mangolds. It is stated their work was highly satisfactory, and dono in a very thorough manner.

At a spccial meeting of tho executive of tho Women's National Reserve, hold on Friday, Mrs. Corliss was elected lion, secretary. Mrs. Corliss, was well known as prosidont of the Girls' Branch of the' Victoria League, for a considerable time before leaving for England, and her wido experienco in Britain should bo of much value to the'organisation.

Mrs. Russell, wife of Mr. C. B. Russell, manager of tho British Empire Trading Company, arrived from Sydney by tlio Riverina yesterday. \