WAR NURSES ENTERTAINED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 185, 1 May 1919, Page 4

WAR NURSES ENTERTAINED

) ; TRIBUTE TO THEIR WORK

A party of 37 nurses of. the New Zealand Army Nursing Service returned to their own country by the Taiuui yesterday. As this wag tho largest body of nurses that has yet returned by one 6hip, occasion was taken to accord a welcome to them, and to as many as could be assembled of tho nurses who have come back, by earlier transports. recently. Altogether the party consisted of eonie 50 or 60 nurses, and this party waa entertained by Sir James Allen and Ministers of the Crown at Bellamy's-yester-day morning.. Miss* M'Lean, MatroiMnChief of the Nursing Service, was present, and also at the function were MnjotGeneral Sir Alfred Robin, Captain HallThompson (Naval Adviser), Colonel C. M. Gibbon, Colonel Piirdy, and the Mayoress of Wellington (Sirs. J. P. Luke). Sir James Allen offered to the nureee a most hearty welcome home, and tendered to them the-thanks of .the whole country for the splendid work they had done in the war. He knew how much the public of New' Zealand, especially the hext-of-kin of those at , the front, had valued the knowledge that kindly, sympathetic women of New Zealand, who knew how to do the work, were nursing their lads at the front. He knew from the boys who came back in what high esteem they held the ladies of the N.Z. A.N.S. "The country is grateful to yon, I am grateful to you, find every soldier is grateful to you for what you have done. You will not mind my paying that the work is not yet done. The centre of gravity has.shifted from England and France to New Zealand. Tho bulk of our sick and wounded are now in hospital in New Zealand." They required attention, and , the country wish to give thorn that attention, but little could be done without the help of the nurses. Some of the nurses would perhaps go back to their hospitals, and would be better for the experience gained in the military 6ervice, but some of them would be required still in the Army Nursing faervice, and he knew they would not desert the wounded soldiers. The competition, he expected would be as to -whom should remain, and it would be very difficult for Hiss M'Lean to make a selection of the best when they were all so good. _ _ Some nurses, not on the Tainui: he believed, had come back sick. He hoped they would !>e restored to health speedily' as the country wished; to see them strong, and it needed their services in tho civil hospitals, where they were; short, of nurses. It was a great satisfaction to the people of New Zealand to Know that the reputation gnined by the New Zealand Division in France, by the mounted men in Palestine, and by ifew Zealand soldiers wherever they had gone had been equalled, if not excelled by the reputation of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. He, knew from Egypt, Iceland, and elsewhere that a New Zealand.matron or sister was always wanted if-she could be obtained It was to the credit of those who had Rone that they had made this great'name for the women of New Zealand. "We are glad to liaye you back in health and strength again, we rejoice, to have you, with us, and we thank you very much for what you have do"»." Moplause.) , Miss M'Lean expressed how much the nurses appreciated the fact that the New Zealand Government had allowed them to go und nurse their own sick and wounded. Mam- of them had also been nursing the soldiers of all the .Allied forces. It was tforlc which all the nurses n New Zealand wonld liaw been, dad to undertake had they been _ permit ed to. qho (lid not think anv swtor waited lnr military hospitals would link! back. Soma of them hnd met their fate nM «ime Iwck mwS°<l; other? wore engaged. Those ■ thev woitlrl'lnse. but she was nuito sure there would bo sufficient.to wv on the work as military ■sisters until they were no longer required. ) ,