CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1915, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

VOLUNTEER SISTERHOOD. To the Editor. Sir, —Since the first contingent of volunteer women orderlies left New Zealand for Alexandria on October 21,1 hav« 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 has been medically examined and certified as Al physically; (,'!) that she is a woman of cheerful disposition, sound character and commonsense, and sustainment of purpose; (-1) that she is willing to do any kind of work, and to give cheerful and ready obedience to the trained nurses and others in authority over her. The responsibility for seeing that these conditions are complied with rests with the medical adviser and myself in Christchurch. On these conditions money can be accepted in trust for any individual woman. (General funds are banked and expended by cheque bearing the signature of the medical adviser and myself. The accounts are kept by one chartered accountant and audited by another chartered accountant. The volunteer women offer their services to the Imperial Government, which has for many months past employed such women, the peacesupply of regular trained nurses having proved entirely inadequate. The New Zealand Defence Minister gives the Volunteer Sisterhood no official status, but accords all official courtesies necessary. Passports arc obtained either in New Zealand or Australia. The possession of nursing experience is desirable, but not essential. The main thinn is to get the right kind of woman. Much of the work is not nursing at all. The money required is approximately £l3O each — £IOO to he paid into the Defence Department, less single steamer fare; and £2o to be paid into the Volunteor Sisterhood for equipment, plus £5 for additional war risk on insurance policy. The next contingent of volunteer women will leave New Zealand in December. The Y.M.C.A. agents meet the 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 despatch of the first contingent; therefore applications from women raising the money for themselves must receive preference at present. But in no case will unsuitable women be allowed to buy their way into the Volunteer Sisterhood.—l am, etc., ETTIE A. ROUT,

Hon. Secretary Volunteer Sisterhood. Box 360, Christchurch, November '4, 1915. j CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR NURSES AT THE FRONT. To the Editor. Sir. —Can you tell me what is the matter with New Plymouth people; why they lag so much behind other towns? Our town being the capital should lead the way in all patriotic affairs in Taranaki. Now, in the matter of providing our nurses with little Christmas gifts, no one has yet made a move, yet in Hawera and other places I am told the movement is being largely supported. Certainly, a few ladies some weeks ago carried out a scheme to give the nurses who hailed from New Plymouth, and belonged to the No. 1 Stationary Hospital, a few Christmas gifts, but that was only for our own girls. What is needed now is a united eilort to show our appreciation for the noble women who are tending our boys in all the N.Z. hospitals at the front. Some men, and women 100, alas! objected to sending gifts to nurses, on the ground that they are not facing dangers, and are really having a "good time" in common with all the other members of the hospital staffs. What ignorance this displays! Have not the members of these staffs sacrificed as much as other soldiers have? And, as for dangers, what about the diseases set up by the trying climate of Egypt, and the risk of over-strain through over work under adverse circumstances, not to speak of the danger from the enemy, one portion of which at all events has no respect for the Red Cross? Surely the late sad tragedy in the Agean Sea, which, it is plain, might well have exterminated the No. 1 Stationary Hospital staff altogether, should bring home to the unthinking ones the risk these good friends of our boys are constantly running. And we in iiiis beautiful town live our peaceful lives apparently forgetful of them, not caring enough even to follow the fine example of other places in sending the nurses at the front packages of handkerchiefs, note paper and books, etc., as a kindly remembrance from New Plymouth. Indeed, I hear that in some parts of the Dominion the generous-hearted people are sending gifts to be distributed amongst the whole staff of some of the hospitals, from medical officers to orderlies. Hoping that someone will initiate a movement in the direction indicated before it is too late,—l am, etc., NURSES' ADMIRER. New Plymouth, 5/11/15.