NEW ZEALAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 46, 23 October 1915, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

MORE NURSES WANTED. Per Press Association. Wellington, October 22. The Prime Minister informed a reporter to night that he had received a cablegram from the Imperial authorities asking if New Zealand could supply another hundred trained nurses for service in Egypt. The information placed before him was to the effect that nurses could be supplied. Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, had reported that the number mentioned could be spared without impairing the efficiency of public hospitals, and Miss McLean, who had the matter in hand, had stated that there would be no difficulty in enrolling tile nurses from among the volunteers already on the books. Cabinet had decided, therefore, that one hundred nurses should be sent. Mr Massey mentioned that probably the nurses would go as passengers in a hospital ship when they left New Zealand. The Mararaa would be leaving in December, and the Maheno, which was making a trip back to New Zealand, would be leaving Wellington again a little later.

MONTHLY TROOPSHIPS. ■United Press Association. Wellington, October 22. The Minister for Defence informed a reporter to-day that owing to certain difficulties in regard to transports, some alterations have had to be made in the method of sending away reinforcements. “We have now found it possible,” said the Minister, “to arrange transports into four pairs, leaving the Dominion at regular intervals of every four weeks instead of every calendar month. By so doing, thirteen four-weekly drafts can bo despatched in a year, and by adopting this system the numbers of each draft will be reduced by 210. Since there will be four drafts in training at a time in camp, the strength will be reduced by 840. 1 his will reduce expense, and improve the facilities for training. The number called up for the 10th Reinforcements will still further be reduced by 600, * owing to the fact that' the reinforcements and reserves required for 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Rifle Brigade in camp will not be necessary until the 11th Reinfocemenfes are called up.”