ITo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:]
Si,—Sir George Beatson's idea of a Red Cross Nursing Reserve to supplement or replace the Voluntary Aid Detachments seems an excellent one. As it is presumably to include salaried workers, no doubt the word " Voluntary " will be dropped. But will it include voluntary workers ? We are all asked to make a special effort for '; Our Day," but it would be difficult to do so with any enthusiasm did we believe that any of the much-needed funds of the Red Cross Society were to go in salaries to be thrust on women who neitIHr need nor wish for them, but have joined Voluntary Aid Detachments because they wish to give their work. The curious inconsistency of members of a voluntary Society, who, moreover, wear the " V." blazoned on either shoulder, discon- tented because they are not paid, is explained perhaps by the fact that so many paid, and often highly paid, Red Cross officials have been of late made members of Voluntary Aid Detachments, and have been given positions of authority in them, wearing the uniform without having done any voluntary work at all. Neither W.R.N.'s, W.A.A.C.'s, Censors, nor Government clerks go about labelled " Voluntary," so no one thinks any the worse of them for taking a salary for their war work. But a member of a Voluntary Aid Detachment taking a salary and yet wearing the uniform lays herself open to adverse comment. If the "V." is to go in deed it should go in word; but can the Red Cross spare its voluntary workers in these hard times ?—I am, Sir, &c., V.A.D. sixes 1910.
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