WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 19, 17 October 1917, Page 3

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

A COUNTRY TOUR. Reporting to headquarters upon tho late oijauLjing lour throughout the Taranaki district, Mrs. Porter states: "In reuponso to invitations from the various centres, I left Wellington to attend a conference of Mayoresses convened at Stratford on October J. The Mayor of .New Plymouth (Mr. Burgess) had kindly urideriaken all arrangements for the conference, at wiiich were present the Mayoresses or their deputies repres'ing New Plymouth, Vvaitara, Inglewood, Stratford, liilham, Hawera, Patea. 1 was very cordially received by an address of welcome front His Worship the Mayor of Stratford, and then explained in detail the objects, aims, and far-reaching influence of the reserve in industrial and patriotic work. At tho close of the address many questions were asked elucidating more clearly the general operations of the organisation throughout the Dominion. Tho original intention was that my visit should be confined to Stratford, but at the close of the conference a unanimous resolution was passed requesting mo to visit the other centres. The very hearty co-operation of all tho patriotic bodies was most encouraging, and I gladly com. plied with the request. His Worship the Mayor of New Plymouth, who had already done so much, undertook the itinerary of my movements. I then attended tho various meetings as followslnglewood on the 2nd, New Plymouth on the 3rd, Waitara, 4th, Stratford Eth, Eltham 6th (two meetings, one being a drawingroom one convened by tho Mayoress), Ha ivera 9th, Patea 10th. At each of the meetings the Mayor presided, and among 'those present were lady representatives of local patriotic bodies, with whoa it was particularly stressed that the W.N.K. would fully co-operate in aiding and supporting ail their patriotic objects. Iho result in every case was a cordial unanimous resolution to establish branches of tho reserve,"' for which purpose committees were formed at tho close of the meetings. The special movements of ttio reserve that appealed to all were the reunions of mothers of soldiers and sailors, tho establishment" of clubs, for soldiers wives, and the juvenile branch. I may mention incidentally tho splendid wcirk that is being done in laranak.; one, th n specially fine is the number of women and girls who are taking the places of relatives on the laud, girls doing all the • farm work that tho b ™.^ r , s had done before going to -he front wives managingy farms m the'absence of tho husbands at the war. .Not only the work done, but the splendid spuit shown by these brave women was moat inspiriting. In some cases they travelled 35 or 40 miles to come to tho meetings, in several eases milking 12 or 20 cows first, and taking the milk to tho factory. It is a great desire of the reserve to set a register of all theso women that such a valuable rccord may not be lost to tho Dominion; «lso .that others may bo thrilled bv the ixno spirit of sclf-sacriueo displayed "by Now-Zealand women. Tho patriotic work done by the various bodies is already known to a. large extent in Wellington, but it was a great pleasure to see some of the fruits of their labour. In Noiv Plymouth the Returned Soldiers' Club was specially well equipped, the old municipal buildings being used for tho purpose, nnd a fine billiard Tooni, a social room, writing, and tea rooms etc., all well and substantially furnished, in beautiful order and greatly appreciated by the soldiers, tho Mayoress (Mrs. Burgess), and the com- , mittee carrying out nil the details of tho work. The Patriotic Rooms, 14 good rooms, rent free (lent; by the Harbour Board), revealed, a great variety of work, results of strenuous and able eftorts of the patriotic women. # "The Red Cross Rooms I was invited to visit, and was deeply interested in the great amount of work done and (he scope of that work; I also visited Mrs. Walker's violet garden, which- has given so largely to the Red Cross 1-unds (I believe over <£S0 without the Government .subsidy), also the rest room at the Hospital, which is unique. At Hawera, also, the ladies have secured very comfortable premises for tho Returned Soldiers Club, tt is beautifully equipped and in perfect order, though too small for tho needs. The men greatly appreciate the work the ladies have, accomplished. Throughout tho Taranaki district the patriotic work done is Tory fine. Tho Belgian Sewing Guild at "Rltham is doing strenuous work", and is also enthusiastic with regard to reserve work. Juvenile branches of the' W.NX have also been started in Ta ran tiki; Miss Stanford, of Ohetwode School, is forming one at New Plymouth, and Hiss Fleming, of St. Mary's Church School, is forming one at Stratford.

"In concluding tlio Taranaki report, I am glad to bear testimony to the most cordial and enthusiastic co-operation of the several Mayoresses, who, without exception, accepted the position of_ president of the W.N.H. branches, which action promises well for the future welfare of the reserve in the Taranaki district. Passing on to AYangfliiui, it was a most delightful surprise to lie met by the president (the Mayoress), and all the committee, at the railway station (though at night, in drenching rain), and to be borne away to a supper party at Chevanne's. where T heard a most, interestinrr doeount of their reserve work. At Feilding. the new branch is getting to work, and is already enrolling women and girls io be ready to help with the harvesting."

The ITuft "Our Day" fete, which was held last Friday realised <£310. The expenses nrc expected to be very light, and tho TTutt Patriotic Guild is very lunch to be congratulated npon the fine rcs.ilts of its hard labours for the cause.