RETURNED ARMY NURSES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23745, 17 September 1942, Page 4

RETURNED ARMY NURSES

CONDITIONS OF LEAVE A more complete statement on the conditions ot leave granted to nurses who had returned to New Zealand from an overseas base has been given to “The Press” by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). Mr Jones stated that the reply he gave to the writers of letters to the editor of “The Press” signed “Phenol” and “Truth and Justice” (published on Tuesday) was in accordance with the The Minister stated that he had copies of three letters sent by the Matron-in-Chief, Army Nursing Service. to nursing personnel who had returned. The first, dated June 26, stated: “At the expiration of your leave it may be necessary to place some of you on*;leave without pay and to second you to hospital boards for temporary duty until required for further military service.” The letter contained a reference to vacancies at a Marlborough hospital. The second letter, dated July 24, instructed nurses not to report at Wellington at the termination of their leave. They were informed that it would “probably be necessary to place most of them temporarily on leave without pay,” and those who had been granted leave from hospital boards and similar organisations on enlistment were advised to communicate with those authorities with a view to resumption of their duties. If they were not required by those institutions, the Health Department or some other hospital board would be glad to have their services until they were required by the Army. The third, dated August 7, intimated that the matron-in-chief was awaiting further instructions and that all would remain for the time being on leave with pay (and, where applicable, subsistence allowance). Those who had accepted employment were given the option of going on leave without pay if they wished to draw the pay of the position they held outside the Army. The Minister said that as far as he was aware no injustice had been done. If any nurses were placed on leave without pay they would not suffer any real hardship, because all could secure immediate employment if they desired. If any nurse had been placed on leave without pay while not drawing pay from any other source and against her expressed wish, he would be pleased to have the matter investigated and, if necessary, rectified. “An important point overlooked by the correspondents.” said Mr Jones, “is that a nurse with overseas service may. if desired, obtain a discharge from the Army in lieu of leave without pay, in which case she would receive a period of special leave on full pay, subsistence allowance, free travelling warrant, and a mufti grant of £l2 10s.”