The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1915. THE VOLUNTEER SISTERHOOD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 80, 3 August 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1915. THE VOLUNTEER SISTERHOOD.

The Volunteer Sisterhood which has' boon started in Christehurch has for its object flic organisation of bodies ol sensible, intelligent women to go abroad to nurse and tend the sick ami wounded. Those women will he between the ages of thirty and fifty,' and preferably between thirty-five l and forty. No woman under thirty can become a member unless she is a trained nurse. Xo woman will he ac-i ccpted unless passed as physically and organically sound by the liouoraryi medical advisers of the Sisterhood. These women will he asked to give up one year of their life for practically no payment at all, for the good of their race and their nation, and on the claims of humanity alone. Maintenance w ill be provided, and a personal allowance to each won,an of lOx per week only. A uniform will also he provided, transport to Hgypt or elsewhere, and each woman will he insured against illness, aceide.il and death. An appeal is now being made for funds to help the movement. In an article which appeared in its columns a few days ago. the Lytteiton

Times says:—Kor our part, we musL confess that wo do not understand how such a scheme can meet with disfavour. It assuredly aims at supplying an urgent want, and if it had

been sooner in active operation at Trontham it is probably that several deaths would have 'boon prevented. The objections liavo been advanced that the scheme is unofficial ami that only trained nurses ought to be sent away to holn tend sick and wounded soldiers. Bnl (here is a shortage ol 1 rained ' ur-e . .. (I reas'iUahly ful supply oi uomoii -.Hell as (Ulljul •' the Volunteer Sisterhood at present and are., we feel sure, going to increase its ranks is the early future. The wfi-

men who arc being organised for < to-■ patch to Egypt aro not trained nurses, it is true; but each group "I' ton will !/e instructed by a trained nurse and will work under proper authority as nurses' orderlies, just as men without special qualification are doing now in the military camps and hospitals ticca use women are nut provided. There can be no doubt that the number of casualties is beyond expectations, and is overtaxing the medical and uurung service's. Cndcr the circumstances the regulations are sure to be revised and sensibly relaxed, providing ample scop.' for the employment of women of the Volunteer Sis-i ter type. ll' a couple of hundred of such willing, patriotic workers were sent from New Zealand to Egypt at: once, we are of opinion that they would be welcomed by those in charge of the military hospitals. In a circular which reaches us to-day from the secretary, it is emphasised that the women of New Zealand are organising themselves into a Volunteer Corps ready to help the sick and wounded. "They want no payment for this work -just sufficient money to provide them with the ban l necessities of life food, shelter, clothing. Will von

give us these:-' We give ourselves, for one year or more, in this time of national need.''