VOLUNTEER SISTERHOOD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 329, 8 November 1915, Page 3

VOLUNTEER SISTERHOOD.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —Since the first continga.it of Volunteer-women, orderlies left NewZealand for Alexandria on October 21. I have received many applications from women desirous of offering their services and paying for themselves, or furnishing money contributed by friends and supporters. The only conditions on which such offers can be accepted are as follows:

1. That the volunteer-woman is over 30 years of age and preferably between 35 and 40; 2. That she Bias been medically examined and certified as Al physi-

cally; 3. That she is a woman of chaa:!il disposition, sound character and commonsense, and sustainment of

purpose; 4. That she is Avilling to do any kind of work, and to give cheerful and ready obedience to the trained nurses and others in authority over her.

The responsroirrry for seeing that these conditions are compiled with rests with the Medical Adviser and myseli in Christchurch. On these condition" money can be accepted in trust fo-* any individual woman. General funds are banked and expended by ahequp bearing the signature of the Mudic a! Adviser and myself. The account <? are kept by one chartered accountant and audited by another chartered accountant. The volunteer-wo-men offer their services to the Imperial Government, which has for many months past employed suclh women.the pe?ce-supply of regular trained nurses hav?ni- proved entirely inadequate. The New Zealand Defence Minister gives the Volunteer Sisterhood no official status but accords all official courtesies necessary. Passports are obtained either in New Zealand or Australia. The possession of nursing experience is desirable, but not essential. The main thing is to get the rigjht kind of woman. Much of the work is not nursing at all. The money requried is approximately £l3O each —£100 to be paid into the Defence Department, less single steamer fare; and £25 to be paid into the Volunteer Sisterhood for equipment, plus £5 for additional war risk en insurance policy. The next contingent of volunteer-women will leave New Zealand in December. The Y.M.C.A. agents meet t]he women at their destination, assist them as required, and take charge of postal and cable arrangements. The general funds Of the Sisterhood have been temporarily exhausted by the dispatch of the first contingent; tjherefore applications from women raising the money for themselves must receive preference at present. fiut in no case will unsuitable women be allowed to buy their way into the Volunteer Sisterhood. —Yours etc. ETTIE A. ROUT, Hon. Secretary Volunteer Sisterhood. Box 360, Christchurch, /November 4th, 1915.