LOANS FOR WAR

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1940, Page 3

LOANS FOR WAR

How to Help WELINGTON March 13. 'The Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) said to-day that after his statement broadcast last Sunday he had received a number of inquiries from people who desired to know the procedure to be followed in making gifts or interest-free loans for war purposes. For the information of those concerned, the Minister said that anyone desiring to make a gift or lend any money could send a cheque addressed to the Minister foi’ Finance, Parliament Buildings, or simply lodge the amount to the credit of the Public Account at any branch of the Bank of New Zealand, and forward the proper portion of the bank receipt to the Secretary to the Treasury, Government Buildings, Wellington, under cover cf a letter stating that the amount was a gift to the War Expenses Account, or a loan free of interest for the duration of the war and 12 months thereafter, as the case might be. Alternatively, if more convenient, the amount concerned could be paid into any money order office or post office in New Zealand for transmission to the Treasury. Subscribers of interest-free loans will receive New Zealand Government inscribed stock for the amount involved. All amounts received will be paid into the War Expenses Acmount, and under legislation passed last session, money in this account can be used only for war purposes. No Red Cross Nurses WANTED FOR OVERSEAS. WELLINGTON, March 13. Though many young New Zealand women are ready and eager to do nursing work overseas, they are not at present to be given the opportunity asked at the Red Cross conference today if there was any likelihood of Voluntary Aid Division workers being sent overseas for war service, Miss M. I. Lambie, Director of the Nursing Division of the Public Health , Department, replied that there was no immediate prospect of this being done. The military authorities had ruled that only registered nurses would be accepted for overseas service. Whether that would continue to be the case she did not know; but it was quite certain that for the present no ordinary V.A.D.’s would be sent abroad. The value of the work of V.A.D.’s in undertaking hospital work and training under the scheme at present in operation was emphasised by Miss E. R. Bridges, of the Public Health Department. She said many V.A.D.’s were inclined to regard the duties they were called upon to do as menial; but they were actually of considerable importance during the last war, and in epidemics and other emergency work in which voluntary aid had been employed. The value of the service rendered had sometimes been affected by two deficiencies. First, V.A.D.’s lacked practical experience in hospital and, second, the regular nursing staffs of the hospitals had not always appreciated the work and position of the V.A.D. nor had the V.A.D. understood what was involved in the full work of a registered nurse. The scheme inaugurated last year for giving V.A.D.’s a certain amount of practical experience in hospitals would, it was believed, remedy both deficiencies. “The health of our people, of vital importance at any time, is even more so at present. It is indeed a national asset.” said Miss Bridges. “Any contribution to the maintenance of health is a national service of the first importance, and the duty of each of us is to carry out willingly and to the best of our ability any part of it which we are able.”