WELCOME TO RETURNED NURSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 31 January 1939, Page 4

WELCOME TO RETURNED NURSES

AT THEATRE ROYAL TO-NIGHT j I ' LECTURES BY SISTER SHADBOLT ; AND NURSE DODDS Whatever one thinks of the rights ami wrongs of the Spanish conflict there is j n 3 room for any difference of opinion on j the need for saving non-combatant wo- I men and children from destruction and I suffering. The New Zealand Spanish Medical Aid Committee is making an appeal to all lovers of humanity to assist in the work of assisting the unfortunate Spanish people. Thousands of children in Spain ar» in need and to help them a Dominion lecture tour by Sister Shad bolt and Nurse Dodds lias been inaugurated. Tonight at the Theatre Royal Nelson citizens will have an opportunity of hearing j direct from the lips of these two New i Zealand nurses their actual experiences j in Spain. These nurses served with the famous International Brigade and parti- i cularly interesting will be a short descrip- j tion of the farewell given to the Bri- ! gade when the Government of Spain bon- i oured their agreement, to send out of Spain all their foreign supporters. An un- 1 derstanding of the peculiar political con- j dilious in Spain is essential to an uuderstanding of events there. One import- | ant fact is that in 1933 women voted for the first time in history. The leader of the women of Republican Spain, La Pasionaria, made a powerful appeal to the women of the world. This eloquent and touching appeal will be delivered by one 01 the nurses to night. First hand information from these two nurses about the actual conditions in Spain where it is estimated that 100,000 children are starving and of these probably 50,000 will die will stir lovers of democracy to come to their aid. The Sisters in their work are backed by the organised labour movement of New Zealand, who have already sent over £4OOO to assist Spanish people. Aid to Spain is urgently needed for the plight of Spain is not only a matter of humanitarian interest. As Lord Strabolgi (Lieut.-Commander Ken worthy 1 has pointed out, the strategic life line of New Zealand will be cut if Italian and German Fascism conquer democratic Spain. Considerable interest is being taken in this lecture and a large audience is expected. Mrs W. Lock 0.8. E., will take the chair at 8 p.m. Mr H. At more M.P. and Mr C. F. Skinner M.P are scheduled to speak at the meeting.