NURSE’S UNIFORM

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 117, 11 February 1941, Page 8

NURSE’S UNIFORM

Minister’s Reply To Mayor Of Napier REPLACEMENT OF OUTFIT Statements reported to have been made by the mayor of Napier, Mr. Hercock, about the loss of uniform outfit of a nurse serving overseas, were replied to yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Air. Nash. He stated that in several respects Air. Hercock s understanding of the true position was entirely incorrect. “There is a record of one case o’ 11 ? similar to that referred to by Air. Hercock.” said Air. Nash. “AA hen the facts of this case were reported to the Alinister of Defence an additional grant of £4O (Egyptian currency) was approved to enable the nurse to replace her uniform and clothing that had been lost. This authority for payment was cabled overseas. .. .... “The mayor of Napier also alleges that the nurse found it necessary to cable the Minister for permission to withdraw from her personal savings £25 for the sole purpose of replacing her loss, and that with this knowledge, no effort was made to protect her from loss. It is further stated that the authorities refused permission to transmit money overseas as the nurse would have exceeded the allowance of £2O a year. “This statement is entirely incorrect,” added Air. Nash. “There are no records of any cable having been received by any Alinister. The facts are that the nurse referred to lodged a written application with the base paymaster overseas on December 7 additional remittance of £2O (not £2u), and this application was transmitted to New Zealand by the first air mail dispatch. Immediately on its receipt the sum requested was cabled, though before December the nurse had already received the maximum remittance permissible at that time.” The Alinister added that inquiry was being made overseas to ascertain whether any delay occurred in reporting the incident or in dealing with the application in Egypt.