New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 32, 5 September 1916, Page 2

New Zealand

THE NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEER SiSTERR. A letter to a Dunedin resident, written from Tel-el-Keliir on June 21, by an officer in the Twelfth Reinforcements, contains the following appre!elation of the work of the New Zealand Volunteer Sisters;— i “I visited the canteen run by the New Zealand Volunteer Sisters the ’other day, and was metre than favour- ‘ ably impressed. They are heroes, these women, ns they are planted here in the desert, away from civilisation, with not a white woman to speak to. !t is no solt job that they 'have taken on, as they have to work very hard all day, baking, making sandwiches, fruit salad, etc., under conditions the reverse of convenient. There are five of them here, running a big marquee next to the military cemetery at Tel-el-Kebir, where our 'fallen heroes in the historic battle 'fell. They sell things very cheaply, practically at cost price, receive no wages, and no assistance beyond !voluntary subscriptions. We had a 'long yarn to one of them, 3:1 iss March, of Wanganui, while Miss Rout was more than good, and placed her i rush-made office at our disposal, ami wo sioped our tea in comrort. Miss Rout is in charge here, and has earned the thanks and gratitude of thousands of soldiers who are in camp here just now. I know of no mo-e sacrificing work than these women arc doing, and their valuable work ought to he made more widely known in New Zealand. The report in the papers that they had been stranded in Egypt worried and annoyed them a very great deal,- as it was so untrue. If the powers that he in New Zealand could see these women at work they would change their tune. They are doing a very noble work, and deserve all praise. It does one’s heart good to bear the encomiums bestowed ' on these women by our New Zealand ! boys, who do appreciate the presence of a real white woman, and (lod knows these women are ‘white’ in the true sense of the word. They have quarters ill the little village, which is < ntirely native, about the size of Irish Town,’ so you can see. they are on no ! picnic, although they are bright and ! happy, and glad to be doing their hii for the hoys.”