THE MAHENO NURSES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 18, 22 January 1916, Page 8

THE MAHENO NURSES

COL. COLLINS'S STATEMENT

TREATMENT ON THE .VOYAGE.

Colonel W. E. Collins, who was' in charge of the Hospital Ship Maheno, has written as follows to the Defence Minister (the Hon. James Allen) :—

"I was very much surprised to read in the New Zealand Times on 14th January of alleged complaints made by the passenger nurses on the • Maheno during her first. voyage to the Mediterranean. It is quite true we could not supply them with cabins, nor did we carry stewardesses on board, but everything was done to make them as comfortable as possible. They were given their choice of light, airy wards, ,and orderlies were provided from the personnel to attend to their needs. Many of them were sick

at first, but those who were not were

quite willing to attend to their sick comrades, and orderlies were provided to wait upon them in the saloon at table

"It has been said that they were compelled to go to the galley for their own food. That statement is incorrect, and the probability is that not one of them knows where the galley on the Maheno is situated. They possibly refer to the serving pantry in the corner of the saloon, where six waiters were provided for serving purposes. If nurses were in a hurry to obtain a second helping they rose from the table, walked about five yards, and received from the pantryman what they desired. My quartermaster invariably

attended the passenger nurses' mess, and never heard any complaints from

them. At the end of the voyage they appeared to be sorry to leave the ship, and when it became necessary to select

from their, number sisters to remain on board there was no difficulty in getting them. "In regard to deck accommodation, the passenger nurses were given the use of. all the deck space, with the exception of a small portion near the orderly office, and aft as far as the No. 4 hold on the starboard side. ..."Finally, it might be pointed out that the passenger nurses were on active service, and receiving pay as such. "(Signed) W. E. COLLINS, Col."