WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 69, 14 December 1917, Page 3

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

ANNUAL MEETING

SPLENDID YEAR'S RECORD

The second annual mooting of the omen's National .Reserve was held in tho Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening. Dr. Platts-Mills preBided, and thoro wcro present upon the platform Mesdames 0. W. ilussell (president of tho Honorary Division oi tho W.N.R.), Mrs. W. D. S. MacDonakl, Mrs. J. Hnnnay, tho Mayoress (Mrs. J. I'. Luke), the Hon. T. M Wilford, Mrs. Porter (organising secretary), and representatives of th< aotivo and honorary divisions of tht Reserve. Apologies were received frorr tho Hon. G. W. Russell, Mrs. Massey Mrs. Hall-Thompson, tho Hon. J Hanan, and Mrs. Firth. In introducing the Hon. T. M. Wil ford, who had been asked to address the meeting, Dr. Platts-Mills, on behal] of tlie 'Women's National Reserve, con gratulatod Mr. Wilford on tho honoui that had recently eomo to him. In thanking Dr. Platts-Mills and tin Reserve for their congratulations, Mr Wilford said that in these days then was only ono thing for everyone to do and that was to play tlie game for th< Empire. Political warfare and parti strife had all been put on one sido fo: higher ideals. • Those who once rtrovi for party issues had forgotten them ii the need for a wider perspective, anc all were now working for a commoi ideal. Ho was very glad indeed ti speak of tho work done by tho Women': National ReseiTO, both in and outsldi of the city. They had indeed dom their "bit" well. From now on thi great test lay beforo us. Peopli were prone to becomo war-weary, ant to ask themselves when was it goin; to end? With 110 reply forthcominj the weak-kneed were ready to'fall b; the way in despair. . Women had bora their share of tho war-load bravel; indeed, and in tho hour of victor; would coine to them tho remembranci of the part they had played. , I would bo impossible to treat in on< night's speech of what women hac done. In one way alone, that of thei iffluence upon the soldiers, their worl had been of incalculable importance for their courage and endurance am sympathy had nerved the men to i greater determination and strength ii fighting tho enemy. We, in this war 'wcro fighting oh the side of fair deal ing, of keeping faith, and out of tin matter of the war would come i clearer conception of _ what right an< wrong meant. Continuing, Mr. Wil ford told his audience that thi sacrifices made by women in this wa: had placed them on a mountain>top When things were looking dark ant dreary, and when onco the women ha< understood what 'this German autoc racy meant, they had clenched thei: teeth and they had said, "Call on us!' In these trying times, continued Mr Wilford, it was the duty of evoryom to bo cheerful and bright, to imbm themselves with the conviction that thi end was going to be what we wish i to be. Not until this militarism, thi; autocracy of tho Hohenzollerns, wa: overthrown, could wo regard the wa: as won. All at home here had to sec ond the efforts of the men in tho fieli with all tho cheerfulness we conic muster, and we had good reason foi being cheerful. Mr. Wilford congratulated Mrs. Por ter on her organising work in Tara liaki, and spoke in high terms of praisi of the way in which the women of tha' province had got to work and hac taken the burdens dropped by tho inei who had gono to the war upon thei] own shoulders. Concluding, Mr. Wilford said that ho hoped before the nexl twelve months wcro over that wo woulc he celebrating that- victory which is coming and which is being helped by tho "women's work,. Dr. Platts-Mills, preliminary to reading the year's report of work, said that tho balancc-sheet was not available that evening, as all tho necessary .documents had not been placed in the hands of the auditor in time. However, it would he printed in the report and would so be available to all in a day or two. The Christchurch and Wellington branches of the W.N.R., continued 'the speaker, had between them made an amount of £9905 for patriotic purposes. Br. Platts-Mills then proceeded to read the report, in which was described the aims and objects of the two divisions, tho active and tho honorary. Tho active division, as all knew, had come into existence with the main object of fitting women to tako the places of tho men, and so freo the latter for the war. Although much had been accomplished there had been obstacles in the way of old-fashioned conservatism that had prevented them from doing all they had hoped to do, particularly in agricultural and industrial matters. However, they hoped in a little while to establish means whereby milking and dairy work could bo tnught, and they hoped to see facilities established for women to enter agricultural colleges and in every way fit themselves to take up this work and other essential industries, and in that way lessen the need for exemptions. The origin and work of the honorary division, of .which Mrs. G. W. R.usseil was president, were also outlined by tho speaker, the . main object being to care for and assist tlie wives of the soldiers and sailors who had gone on active service. All that had been done so far by these two branches was fully dealt with in tho report, which showed lecord of work whicli the organisation had every reason to be proud of. A letter was read from Mrs. Firth! benrmg unon the Hod Cross work of tho'W.N.R. In the course of it Mrs. Firth, on behalf of the Wellington Red Cross Shop Committee, thanked tho reserve for its valuable help in the shop. Days had been taken by the following branches:—lsland BaV, Lyall Bay, Kelburn, Hataitai, Brooklyn, Kilbirnie, TCarori. Maknra, Wadestown, Johnsonville. and "Wellington Central! All these efforts had resulted in the sum of £1357 having been realised for our side and wounded soldiers, and of these Island Bay and Lyall Bav had brought in the largest 6um (of the branches), £245 os. lid., while Brooklyn had made £100. Tho committee had been greatly pleased when Mrs. Porter had announced that the reserve would continue the work at the shoo, and would lake the shop one Friday in every month. Their help was groatlv ipnrociated.

Brief speeches woro also mado by Mrs. Corliss (hon. secretary), the Mayoress (Mrs. .T. P. Luke), ami songs woro situs: by Miss Doris Ball and Mrs. Robinson (Tarannki).