VOLUNTEER SISTERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17198, 19 June 1916, Page 9

VOLUNTEER SISTERS.

WORK IX EGYPT. MILITARY CLUB AND TEA ROOMS , AT TEL-EL-KEBIR. LADY GODLEY’S SCHEME. Miss Rout, honorary secretary of the Now Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood, writing from Cairo on May 0, reports as follows with regard to the work of these New Zealand women:— Wo are now embarking on a scheme which was suggested to me by Lady 3odlev recently, and has been worked out by "both of us in consultation with various military authorities. This is to start a Military Club and Tea. Rooms at Tel-el-Kcbir encampment. For various reasons it has been decided to exclude tho troops from Cairo as far as possible. But this means shutting tiicm up in desert camps, where the opportunities for recreation and relaxation are very sparse. Hence it is difficult to keep tho well men lit—mentally and physically, and still more difficult to build up the health and rigour of semi-sick men. Large numbers of men also aro invalided homo w.. 0 could ho re-made, as it wero, into physically fit soldiers, instead of being d-scarded as mere wastage on the wheel of war. It has, of course, been a great privilege to obtain the necessary military consents to go to Tel-el-Kebir at ail, but we are all of us determined to put the last ounce of energy into making tho scheme abundantly successful. The members of the New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood chosen for the work arc Miss Murch (Hawera), Miss Rogers (Wellington), Miss Jopp (Dunedin), Miss M'Cluro (Dannevirke), Mrs Crowther (Rotorua) and myself, in control. Wo are all pledged t.j render voluntary service, and tho profits of tho tea room will bo devoted to the improvement of the club. M o expect to do good work at Tcl-el-vCcbir for some months to come, but are quite prepared to move elsewhere at short notice.

1 have opened an account in the name of the New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood with the Anglo-Egyptian Bank, Cairo, and have paid into this the first contribution for the Tel-el-Kcbir Club, namely, £SO sent to ino by Lady Codley, with tho following message:—“Enclosed the cheque for £SO from the New Zealand Gift Fund, sent to me ior expenditure, and which I feel sure cannot bo better spent than on mnking a. good, comfortable tea room and club for soldiers at Tel-el-Kebir. 'When you know exactly what rs wanted, I can probably help more/’ The Comptroller of the A.I.F. Canteens (Major G. J. Hogbcn) lias also been most generous in liis treatment of us. In a letter written to the Officer in Charge of the A.I.F. Canteens at Tel-ci-Kebir. lie says:—‘ ‘ This is to introduce Miss llout, of tho New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood, who is opening tea rooms for the benefit of the troops at Tel-el-Kebir. You will please afford her every assistance possible, and also let her know what supplies can ho obtained direct from our canteens. If necessary, you can forward special orders for anything that Miss Rout may require. Special lists must be furnislieiPof all goods supplied in this way, as it is proposed to allow a special discount. ’

That overcomes all difficulties with regard to getting general stores. The A.I.F. Canteens Depot is quite close to where our club will he started, ana

storage accommodation for supplies of Hour, sugar, etc., lias been promised. The G.O.C. of tlio Australian and New Zealand Training Centro at Tel-el-Kebir lias also written as follows: “Dear Miss Rout, —Sir Alexander Godley lias' sent mo your letter to Lady Godley and tells me at the same time that you would like to set up a tea room," etc., at this camp. I would be very glad if you would do so, and would give you all the assistance I can. "Wo have three Y.M.O.A. huts going at present, but they are not nearly enough. . . . . I expect to bo in Cairo some day next week, and would be very glad to come and talk it .over with you if you are there yourself.” I went down to Tel-el-Kebir last week, and Lieutenant-Colonel Chaytor, Officer Commanding New Zealand Training Units, took mo all oyer the ground, and after discussion with the Camp Commandant and tlio General Officer Commanding the encampment, we decided to choose a' site outsido tlio camp ancl alongside the old Tel-el-Kebir cemetery. This is close to the water pumping station, which is in charge of the Royal Engineers, and wo shall therefore lie assured of a plentiful water supply. The comptroller of tho A.I.F. Canteens gave me a recommendation to Mr J. Chaker, Inspector of Railway ’Restaurants and Sleeping Cars, who has had some twenty years’ transcontinental experience in canteen work, lie has offered to let us have on lonn, or on purchase payable out of future profits, a full canteen equipment, and lias also promised to instal thia within two days. Tlio financial responsibility for this must be shouldered by myself, and the understanding is that I am to be in control of the women workers as honorary secretary of the New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood. 1 have explained to Mr Chaker' that wc have no money at present, but inasmuch as ho is helping ns for patriotic reasons and not for business reasons, and is willing to rely upon our integrity and sustainment of purpose to meet the obligations honourably, everything will be arranged satisfactorily. But we want help from the New Zealand people for this enterprise. Subscriptions paid into tho account of the New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood at the Anglo-Egyptian Bank, Cairo, or paid into any New Zealand bank for transmission to that account, would be very gladly welcomed. Or tlio subscriptions could bo sent to Lady Godloy for tho purposes of the military canteen and club. But please help us to help the boys as much as ever you can. There isn’t anything we won’t toil for I and endure for their benefit, but the conditions under which wc must live and work for the. next few months are onlv just tolerable, and they are made more difficult iF financial harassment is added to them, and personal disappointment because we aro not able *to do all we wish and all they need. The easiest way to transmit money is through any New Zealand bank to tho Anglo-Egyptian Bank. Cairo, or through Q.M.G. (4) of the Expeditionary branch of the Defence Department for transmission to the New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood account with the New Zealand paymaster in Egypt. Lady Godley is closing tho Helouan Convalescent "Hospital now, and lias kindly given us a large amount of bedding and general linen for the use of the Volunteer Sisters at Tel-el-Kebir, and also a considerable amount of equipment suitable for use in the canteen. Ths, of course, is a very great help. The work here is so important and is likely to last so long, that I have asked all the Volunteer, Sisters to extend the term of patriotic service they promised. Last July it was to bo ‘‘for one year,” and here is next July near at hand, and still the work goes on, day by day, and wc come to our resting place at night weary but content, llow can we be other than content—working here to lessen some of tho wastage of war, staunching somo of the soakage of a, nation’s vitality into the sands of Egypt, guarding as best we may the life-blood of tho nation from needless contamination, and returning home to other women their husbands and sons and brothers and sweethearts a little hotter, we hope, than they would have been bad wo not come out here when the bugle-call of duty sounded in out - ears. /