OPENING OF THE W.N.R. CLUB FOR WIVES

ESTABLISHING A CRECHE. The club for the wives of soldiers and sailors, organised by. the Women s JNational Eesmc, celebrated its opening for the season with a very large fathering of members in the loivn Hall yesterday, when a most pleasant and interesting afternoon was spent Ihe bis chamber had been most eitcohvely decorated for the occasion by tho D.1.0. with flags and yellow and green drapery, an." Miss Cooper had arranged the stage with pot plants and bowls of hydrangea. liio club committeo received the guests, and Colonel Hughes, D.5.0., presided at tho gathering. A brief and enjoyable musical programme had been arranged', Mr. Wenssell Collio playing selections on Hie organ, Mr. Len Barnes and Mrs. Kennedy i contributing- songs, and Mr. iNornian Aitkcn humorous monologues. The afternoon tea arrangements wero in the hands of Mrs. Bethune and her committee, a number of tho wives (members of the club), assisted by Mrs. Clifton, handing tho tea around. An apology was received from tho Mayoress (Mrs. Luke) tor her unavoidable absence from the gathering. During tho afternoon a brief address was given by Mr. John Hutchcson, -who epoko of the inception of the club in" Courtenay Place, and of tho way in which tho scheme had grown. Now that the war was over, continued Mr. Hutcheson, it was hoped lb bring about a better condition of affairs in society in general. It had become obvious that a section that had received least caro and attention was that of tho mothers, and to remedy this state of affairs_ as- much as possible tho Women's National Reservo had como forward with a more ambitious scheme than that already known as the Wives' Club. This project was to establish an institution where tho oppressed and burdened house mother could find rest at a time when she sadly needed it. and in which sho would know that her children were receiving every caro and attention. ,Ouly too often the mother had to get about too soon after her confinement, and it was to remedy this state of affairs that this institution ■would be established. In ,it the mother would with' rest recover her strength, with her children under the same roof though in another part of tho building, and in safe and kindly hands, while others who did not require this caro could leave their little ones with an easy mind while thoy went to do their shopping or transacted other business or whatever it was they wanted to do. At first when the War Eeliof Association had been asked, to assist with tho work of lightening the burden of tho mothers and wives they had felt that the matter required careful consideration. The association was the custodian of money subscribed by tho public, and members felt that they wore responsible for its careful expenditure. When they studied the condition of affairs, however, they tamo to the conclusion that of all sections of society that had silently suffered and endured tho most it was tho wives and mothers who were deprived of their natu/ral protectors. When a woman married her enjoyment in life became largely curtailed, and tho conditions of life often became dull, drab, and dreary, with but little help and little social intercourse. If such an institution as proposed wero establishchd on proper lines at a moderate cost it would be self-supporting in a short time. The reserve was very anxious that tho War Relief Association 'should iinanco the project, and it would most certainly meet a very great want. A fact that the War Eeliof Association found very significant was the number of applications they received for assistance during accouchemcnts, and this they endeavoured: to give in tho best possible way. with due regard to the feelings of the recipient. There was a fever at work in the tody politic, and it had to to realised that tho end of the war had not ended tho obligation of tho civilian to the soldier and Bailor and their wives and their mothers. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, chairman of tho War Eelief Association, also added' a. few remarks, and said that a creche must be established. That was perfectly clear, and if the War Relief Association could not find the money then tho public must be appealed to, and he was sure that once the need was realised .the public would respond. Once a crccho was established on the lines proposed it would bofollowed by others all over Now Zealand. Whether they wero Tich or poor, it seemed impossible for peoplo to got help with their children, and it would lie a great relief if a placo were establisehd whero mothers could safely leave their children while they had a rest or transacted their ■business.' Mr. Tripp also paid a tribute to the way in which tho W.N.T!. had helped the work of the War Eelief Association, and in connection with the soldiers' scholarships' campaign the reserve had supplied all the clerical help that had been needed. He had been asked by .Mr. Macintosh to thank (hem for what they had so readily done in this connection. Among those present wero Mine ol the members of the War Relief Association, Colonel and Mrs. Porter, and Miss Shophard.