A NOBLE WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 91, 10 January 1918, Page 4

A NOBLE WORK

An appeal in a good cause is made by Mrs. Abbott, who is now visiting New Zealand as the accredited representative of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. This organisation, as its name indicates, took its rise in Scotland, but the staffs of the hospitals it has now established on every Allied battlefront havo been drawn from all over the Empire and some of them from America. One of its hospitals in Serbia was until recently in charge of a New Zcalander, Dr. Agnes Bennett. Conducted entirely, by women, these hospitals have been organised in direct response to appeals from Allied countries, particularly from the little countries which have experienced the most tragic calamities of war. It is a fact of which the. British people are entitled to bo proud that they have not only been enabled to meet the enormous demands of the war entirely from their own resources, but have boon enabled in,many ways to extend a helping hand to those who are less fortunately placed. There is no brighter example of the fact than the devoted work carried out by the organisation to which the people of New Zealand are now being invited to extend practical support. The work of the Scottish Women's Hospitals adds a splendid chapter tu the magnificent record the women of the British Empire have established in this war. .Those

who have followed the fortunes <ri the gallant Serbian Army know that its worst perils and privations were shared by unite o£ the Scottish Women's Hospitals. Amidst tho agonies of tho retreat to the Adriatic, the hospital staffs uncomplainingly, and even cheerfully, endured conditions which might have daunted the bwivcst men. What was accomplished in Serbia is typical of the spirit of the organisation throughout s.nd of the work that is being done in various theatres of war to-day. The loyal and devoted women upon whom the burden falls have their reward in the knowledge that they are not only rendering efficient help where heln is most sorely needed, but arc doing much to create lasting bonds of friendship and sympathy between their own nation and the stricken races to whom they are ministering. We may be very sure.that in a remote future Serbians and Rumanians and people of other Allied nations will still look back with affection and gratitude to what_ British women did to help them in a time of heavy affliction. The people of New Zealand should be very ready to contribute to the funds which arc needed in lorder that this noble work may bo continued.