TREATMENT OF THE V.A.D.'S.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sta,—It is announced in the Press that Lord Rhondda has directed that the rations of V.A.D. nurses shall be reduced. It is remark- able that this branch of women's work has been treated throughout with less kind consideration than any other. Hundreds of V.A.D.'s have worked for three and a half years for nothing. Those that are in military hospitals are paid £20 a year, and only in the last few months have been given anything towards their uniform. The Red Cross cooks and housemaids, whose lowest paY is £22, the W.A.A.C., W.R.N.S., and the Land Army are all better paid, are clothed, and well fed and cared for. The work of the V.A.D. is particularly trying to brain and nerves, and is actually harder than that of any domestic servant. They have never been well fed, and now they are especially singled out to have a reduced ration. One wonders whether the reason is that V.A.D. 's are drawn from a class who are working from a patriotic sense of duty, and who would suffer anything rather than complain. If so, it seems hard to take advantage of them.—I am, Sir, &c., MARGARET F. CAae.
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