GETTING READY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 167, 20 August 1914, Page 3

GETTING READY.

The women of Australia have answered the Empire's call just as the women of the Dominion have done, and are fully occupied in getting their soldiers ready for war. Says the Sydney "Telegraph" of August 12: — Where shall the watchful sun, England, my England, Match the master work you've done, England, my own? When shall we -rejoice again, such a breed of mighty men, As come forward one to ten, To the song of your bugles Jblown, England; Down the years of your bugles blown. With the order for the mobilisation of our men for the front, every woman, no less than every naval and reserve man, has sprung to attention. Everybody wants to help in,the business of getting ready. The feeling is very natural. Every woman who has a husr band or a brother or a son is thinking of his safety, and his comfort, and those women who have no relative to give feel that, lacking that sacrifice, they at least must lend a hand to care for those who go. It is a cheering thing, when one comes to think of it, this spontaneous movement among our women, and it shows more perhaps than the casual observer is apt to realise, the depth of our patriotism. ' First aid is a thing which every woman should take up. It is a useful and valuable work, whether in time of war or peace, and no bush woman should be without her certificates. But it is questionable whether the more valuable work now is not being done by those women who have banded themselves together for the collection of old linen, bandages, warm clothing, home-knitted socks, and such medical comforts and hospital stores. We shall have 20,000 men going off very shortly, and two pairs of homeknitted socks each will materially add

to their comfort while upon the march. That is 40,000 pairs of knittod socks. Then cardigan jackets, caps, flannel gloves, handkerchiefs, jerseys, pyjamas, slippers, shoes, undervests, are but a few of the things which we women ought to provide. And again, we are apt to forget that such everyday things as soap, sponges, nail and tooth brushes, writing materials, and such small oddments as collar studs are apt to become the height of luxury when the soldier is at the front, arui when, hurt and sick, he lies feverish and anxious in some none-too-well-found hospital, paper and a pencil to write home are often longed for and longed for in vain. Let us see to it that our men need for none of these things. And, later, when the boys come back, it may be some of them maimed and ailing, it will be the part of these hos-pital-aids committees to follow in the gracious steps of Georgena, Countess of Dudley, and arrange for homes in the towns and country, where these weary fighters may go and rest, until they are really fit <gnd strong again. There should be a wide choice open to them, and enough pocket money to keep them in the small necessities of life, and in tobacco, and this must be made available with the same tact as it was when Dr Roth and our other Australian men got to England from South Africa. In short, everything must be ready for any emergency, for while there is no possible reason for fearing disaster, -we must all the same be prepared for all that is asked of us.

We have, in New-South' Wales, as in the other States, a fine band of Army nursing sisters, but they themselves need help in strenuous times, and it is then that the Red Cross workers become invaluable. The women of Greece, from the Queen downward, set a standard which it will be difficult t'd improve upon, but we shall be satisfied if we can only live up to it, in courage when our troops go, and in efficiency to care for them, if the time comes when we are called upon to aid them.