COULD NOT WITHDRAW MONEY FROM N.Z.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 34, 10 February 1941, Page 4

COULD NOT WITHDRAW MONEY FROM N.Z.

NURSE WHO LOST HER OUTFIT. NAPIER, Feb. 7. How a nurse with the New Zealand forces overseas was not permitted to withdraw money from her savings in New Zealand to replace her complete outfit which had been destroyed in a fire has come to the notice 'of the Mayor of Napier, Mr. Hercock. He explained that the outfit of nurses leaving New Zealand cost 170, for which the Government gave a grant of f4O and the nurse had to find t-he remainder. The nurse in question was to return to New Zealand last August with invalid soldiers, and she handed her possessions to the authorities for transport to the port from which she was to sail. She found on reaching the port that her whole outfit had been destroyed by fire. “The natural expectation of the people of New Zealand who work for patriotic movements,” said Mr. Hercock, “is that the whole loss would have been replaced by the authorities on the spot, but surprising to say this was not done. The nurse found it necessary to cable to the Minister concerned for permission to withdraw from her personal saving in New Zealand an amount of f 25 for the sole purpose of replacing her loss. Irrespective of the fact that this knowledge was supplied to the Minister, no effort was made to protect her from loss."

Though knowing the circumstances for which the money was needed, said Mr. Hercock, the authorities refused her permission to have further money sent overseas, as she would have exceeded the allowance of 120 for a year.