WOMEN WAR WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 119, 13 February 1920, Page 5

WOMEN WAR WORKERS

APPRECIATION OF THEIR EFFORTS A very pleasant evening was spent in ft Toom placed at their disposal by Missis. Gamble and Creed by the com- ■ mittee of.lndies who have been responsible for arranging for the reception of fifty-tiro returning drafts of Now Zealand soldiers, and by their friends. Mr«. de Castro, organiser, had 1 associated with her Mesdamea Wilson, C. W. Earle, Batten. Carter, Stott, and a very large hand of helpers. Amongst many othere pre6ont were the Hon. Sir James Allen, Miss Thompson, of the War Contingent Association (London), Captain Hardhnm, V.C., and Mrs. Hardham. Dr. Schofield, who edited the "New Zealander" in London, and Mr, .T. Tot, -who lias just returned' from England. Matron Wjlson from Walfon-on-Thamos Hospital and Sister Willis were warmly welcomed. The Prime Minister sent a letter of apology for abssneo throiuzh ursent business, and said that bo desired on behalf of_ the Government to thank the committee for the useful and vraselfisVwork it had done. Colo-no) MitrlHl wpided. and spoko very feelingly of line work of women in New Zealand and throughout the Empire during the war, giving equal praise to those in the war sqne and those who never wearied in doing what they could for the fighting men and for Oh'e nation. Captain Prior, of the Voluntary Motor Corpv also spoke in glowing terms of the work of' Win committee. He stated that since the formation of the corps 50,000, returning men had been met, and about 100,000 people carried in the motor-cars—this in less than two.years. Mr. D. Seymour, on behalf of the R.S.A. and the Dominion Executive, also spoke nnpreeintively.; as did Mr. Badger nnd Mr. Fox, the last-namwt harking back to the work of the Sydney Street Soldiers' Club, and saying that in his experienoe the women in every part of the Empiro wero doing everything possible for the soldiers. He suggsted that Hie R.S.A., the oldor men who could not fight, and women should form an organisation to share in the work of reconstruction. Mm. de Castro, on behalf of hor fellow-workors, thanked everyone who W in any way helped, and espoctally the-committee of the R.S.C., without whose co-operation this particular work would have been impossible. Mm. C. W. Eorlo eaid that she thought so much, thanks to the women was really too generous; they were grateful for the opportunity to do anything for the men' who had done so much for us all; and she urged the girts to see that in their day and in their children's day the heroism and self-sacrifice of our mon should not bo forgotten. She spoke feelingly of the days when the Sydney Street; Club gave a cheerful eond-off to fho boys, many of whom had been web corned back at the R.S.C. with wives and children. She specially thanked Mr. Callander and Captain Hardham, and said that one lasting result of the wax was that women of all shades of opinion and in all walks of lif&Jtad conje to a better understanding of "ach other. Sir James Allen spoke in terms of the warmest praise of tho men who lhad gono to the I'rout, and of iho=e who had loyally carried out their duties at home. He was sure that the hardships our soldiers had to ondure wero much lightened by the knowledge of the sympathy felt for them at homo. He wished to express his deep gratitude to all who had in any way helped forward the scheme of Now Zealand's part in the war. To those who helped tho men on. going, and to thoso who helped them on their return ho said that ttiey the spirit of the Empiro, and to the women mas in their 'hands niore than in any other roiled tho happiness, prosperity, and security of the race. He agreed that the community spirit had grown up not only amongst men in the trenches, but amongst co-workers everywhere in a. common cause, nnd that he ihopcd whatever war memorial 'may be erected he hoped it would express a spirit of gratitude for the virtues or bravery and determination' w'liich lias carried the nation and its allies through the war, Such a momorial wculd be a great educative'influence for future generations. Interspersed with the speeches was a programme to which Miss Hazel Fuller, Miss Chudloy, Miss Paulino Browii, and Captain Jones, Messrs. Johns, 'Praise, Pope, and Badger contributed.- Supper was served, for whic'h Messrs. Gamble and Creed generously supplied tea, coflfco, and sandwidhea, Tho ovening began and ended with tho Natiomu Anthem. .. >