VOLUNTEER NURSES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2595, 18 October 1915, Page 3

VOLUNTEER NURSES

A PECULIAR POSITION AUTHORITIES IN CONFLICT (By Teleftraph.—Press Association.) Christoliuroh, October 16. The Hon. G. AY. Russell to-day made a statement praising the ivork done by the Volunteer Sisterhood, but denying that the Government recognised the organisation or is in any way responsible for looking after the nurses who join. "I was surprised," ho 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. Miss Rout, the lion, secretary of the sisterhood, was assured that no untrained ladies would be sent forward. I wish to say that these ladies go without any authority from the Public Health Department, and in defiance of the wishes of the Government'. Further, the Government accepts no responsibility with regard to thfise who go; . ''It is impossible to. allow white women to go to the front for the purpose of undertaking a class of duties which entirely devolve upon the coloured races. If these duties are undertaken by white women, the white race would suffer greatly in regard to what wj in New Zealand call its 'mana.' "If this movement is persisted in I shall exercise tho powers rested in me as Minister in Charge of the National War Funds, with a view to putting matters on a proper footing."

Statement From the Secretary, Miss llout, replying to' Mr. Russell, says that his objections are incomprehensible. She is sure the need exists for female hospital orderlies in Egvpt and elsewhere. The Imperial War Office has issued a demand for 200, female orderlies for Malta. On Colonel Valintine's figures, there are 3000 sick and wounded New Zcalanders in Egypt, requiring 600 nurses. At present New Zealand has only 186 nurses abroad. In the course of a later statement telegraphed from Christchurcii last evening Miss Rout said she had not the slightest intention of altering the arrangements made for the dispatch of volunteer women by tho Manuka and Medina because of the' conflict of autnority between the Health Department and the Defence Department. On September 15 the following telegram, Miss Rout states, was received By her:— "Hon. Mr. Allen,—Will undertake to remit and dispose of same as directed, accounting for it to senders. Sisters must travel at own expense, but Mr. Allen will be pleased to give introductions to authorities in Egjpt." This offer, Miss Rout, adds, was accepted unconditionally, and the Hon. Mr. Allen confirmed it bv receiving from her personally • on October 12 the sum of_ £200 for specific volunteer women, Miss Rout being directed from the Ministerial office to Mr: Rodda, the officer in charge of financial arrangements at. the Expeditionary Branch of the Defence Department. Later these arrangements were inquired into by the hon. secretary of the Volunteer Sisterhood and the mit-tron, aiid found to be sufficient and satisfactory. The position of the Hon. Mr. Allen all along has, says, Miss Rout, been that the matter of going out to Egypt is entirely one for the. volunteers to decide for themselves, inasmuch as they go out unofficially, and not officially. Such considerations as to whether or not the services' of tho Volunteer Sisters will be acceptable in Egypt aro relevant. First the Imperial War Office has just issued an order for 200 volunteer women—that is, so-called untrained nurses; second, ten (?) volunteer women left Wanganui several weeks ago in charge of a trained rnurse, and we havo not yet heard of their expulsion from Egypt; third, three women who joined the Volunteer- Sisterhood in Wellington, one a trained nurse, and two untrained, went out to Egypt at their own expense months ago as scouts, and they,are now in service in a military hospital. Their experience, says Miss Rout, confirms and justifies tho wisdom and necessity of sending out this larger_ contingent, gathered from all over Now Zealand. They will be asked to report to Colonel Rhodes, who, as Assistant Minister of Defence, was most courteous and encouraging to the Volunteer Sisters, whilst he was in New Zealand. Miss Rout states that if. necessary she is quite prepared to go aboard the Medina with tho volunteer contingent.

[In regard to the ten volunteer women that iUifs Rout speaks of as having left Wanganui some weeks ago, in charge of a trained miree, for Egypt,

it is probable that she refers to tlio'C who left to form tho staff of a convalescent. home for New Zealand wounded soldiers at Hillwan. These consisted of a party of eight, of. which Sister Early was matron in charge, and tliny were party financed by a syndicate of Wangamii, Waira.rapa, and Feilding residents.]