Sessional_Paper_1916 — Page 94

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The following resignations have since taken place :

(1.) Miss Craddock on

(2.) Miss Bone

(3.) Miss Astin

8th June, 1915.

24th June, 1915.

14th July, 1915.

(4.) Miss Everingham,,

25th January, 1916.

(5.) Miss Wood

"

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11

17

Miss Craddock and Miss Bone gave the necessary notice of their intention to resign and refunded their passage money to the Colony. Both were actuated by the very laudable desire to obtain employment in England or elsewhere in nursing the wounded soldiers and sailors who have been fighting for their King and country. Miss Astin resigned under similar conditions. She did not give any reason for her resignation. But as she had previously volunteered to join the Nursing Staff of the Hospital Ship "Delta" I assume that she was actuated by the same motive. Miss Everingham and Miss Wood completed their agreements on the 25th of January, 1916. They gave no reason for not renewing them but may be inferred that they too were influenced by the same patriotic ambition as the other three.

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From June last onwards steps have been taken, as you are aware, to obtain 4 Sisters to fill vacancies. One was obtained from New Zealand, but under date of the 8th of January last you informed me by telegraph that the Colonial Nursing Association were unable to state when they would be able to recommend candidates. On the 5th of January the Association wrote to you that they feared "it is hardly possible to say when they will be in a position to recommend Nurses for the vacancies owing to the great scarcity of candidates at present, but they are making every effort towards this end and will communicate as soon as they have been successful."

Endeavours to obtain more Nurses from New Zealand have likewise failed.

I question therefore the accuracy of Mr. Pollock's statement that the difficulty in getting Nurses to come out to serve in the Government Hospitals in Hongkong is not in any way due to the war. Nor do I credit his assertion that no similar difficulty is experienced in Singapore and the Federated Malay States since from private advices I learn that the Colonial Nursing Association have no applicants for posts in the Colonies.

The Staff of Sisters was reduced in the Estimates for 1916 to 14 exclusive of 2 Private Nursing Sisters, the experiment being made, for purposes of economy of employing 6 Chinese dressers.

At the present time the Staff of Sisters is in the following condition :--

Sisters for duty,

Sister on leave,

•

Sister about to be invalided out of the Hong-

kong Service, Vacancies,

...

+

...

9

1

...

...

1 3

14

and 1 Sister is shortly expected to retire.

To replace the 4 vacancies shewn above the following steps have been taken :-

2 Voluntary Aid Detachinent Nurses have been employed since December last in the mornings daily at the Government Civil Hospital.

1 Japanese trained Nurse has been employed in the Maternity Hospital thus setting free 1 Sister for work in the Government Civil Hospital.

1 Chinese trained Nurse has been employed for the Native Female Wards

in the Government Civil Hospital.