VOLUNTEER-HELPERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1918, Page 4

VOLUNTEER-HELPERS

TO THE BDITOIt.

Sir,—That the Minister of Health and tig Department should be found wanting in such an epidemic as we recently experienced can surprise no one. See how the Department went to work. When it realised that it was "up against" something quite beyond its resources, it appealed, for volunteer-helpers, without intimating (in the first instance] that such volunteer-helpers would be paid for their services.

The volunteers were, as might be expected, the more intelligent men and women in the community, very largely our indifferently pajd teachers. I understand that wljen they volunteered, they were asked whether they expected to be paid for their services, and naturally they said "No." I knotv of cases o*f women teachers and students under training as teachers, who gave their services gatuitously for a whole month to this great Department of State, and have so far received no personal notification that the Minister or his Department was grateful for or appreciated their services ! Fancy a great Department of State accepting the " gratuitous" service of some women who are earning from £40 to £60 a| year ! The thing is incredible ; yet I can prove it true. Truly, our National Government's ideas of a ;sqnare deal are astounding. It would win oiu wars, fight epidemics, and educate our youths by gratuitous labour or charitable aid.

Trusting that the community will insist on the Government seeing to it that all volunteer-helpers (male and female) in connection with the recent epidemic will get some tangible State recognition, even if it be no more than a " scrap of paper " acknowledging their services.—l am, etc.,

HONOUR WHERE HONOUR IS DUE.

P.S.—Alas, not, a few have sacrificed their lives in..such service.