REPUDIATED BY THE COVERNMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8271, 16 October 1915, Page 4

REPUDIATED BY THE COVERNMENT.

PROPOSED DUTIES FIT ONLY FOR COLOURED PEOPLE. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, October 10. The Hon. G. Vv. Russell'to-day made a statement praising tho work done by the Volunteer Sisterhood,- but denying that the (jfovcrnment recognised tho organisation or is in "any way responsible for looking ...Sifter the nurses who join.

"I was surprised," he said, " to see statements in the newspapers that a. number of ladies would leave New Zealand as members of the organisation to nurse at the front, as Miss Rout, honorary secretary of the Sisterhood, was assured that no untrained ladies would be sent forward. 1 wish to say that these ladies go without any authority from the Public Health Department and in defiance of tho wishes of the Government. Further, the Government accepts no responsibility with regard to those who go. It is-impos-sible to allow white women to go to "the. front for the purpose* of undertaking a class of duties which entirely devolve lipon coloured races. If these duties are undertaken by white women, the white race would suffer greatly in; regard to what .we-in- New Zealand call its mana. If this movement "is persisted in. I shall exercise the'powers vested in me as Minister in charge of tho national war funds with a view to~ putting matters on a proper footing."