NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 69, 14 December 1932, Page 4

NATIONAL RESERVE

Varied Activities of Women’s Organisation

ANNUAL MEETING HELD

Matters of interest were brought forward at the annual meeting of the Women’s National Reserve, which was held yesterday afternoon in the Educational Institute rooms. Mrs. L. Tripp was in the chair, and the speaker for the afternoon was Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. Reports were presented from the following local branchesßerhampore, Kelburn-Northland, Khandallab, Kilbirnie, Lower Hutt, Lyall Bay, Melrose, Oriental Bay, Seatoun, Wadestowu; also from the circles, HataitaiWellington Central, Island Bay, Wellington South. Reports were read in connection with various activities, including the Soldiers and Sailors’ Memorial Cemetery Committee, Welfare Branch, Residential Nursery, Girls’ Club, and subcentres. Secretary’s Review. The annual report presented by the secretary, Mrs. J. Snell, stated: ’‘Notwithstanding the difficult conditions which have existed—the most difficult in the whole history of the Women’s National Reserve —it is gratifying to be able to report another year of successful work by the members, which has resulted in maintaining the great work carried on by the organisation. Like every other institution which is carrying out humanitarian work at the present time, the reserve is'facing difficulties not the least being that of maintaining adequate finance. ■ “An example of these difficulties is found in the withdrawal of the Government grant during the past year owing to the serious decline of the national revenue; but thanks to the generosity of the l?rgc and increasing number of people who recognise the valuable nature of the reserve's work and the energetic and loyal efforts which have been made by all the branches, together with the valuable assistance derived from the McCarthy Trust, it has been possible to carry on without any serious impairment of efficiency. Although it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain such work in face of the continued financial depression, these very factors make such a work more than ever necessary if the needs of those who cannot help themselves are to be met.”

The executive had met regularly throughout the year under the leadership of Mrs. Tripp as president to deal with matters calling for attention from time to time. The chief .work of the reserve continued to be maintenance of the Children’s Residential Nursery in Owen Street, which constituted a very valuable social service which was proving indispensable to many families temporarily deprived of a mother’s presence and help. The other activities—the Memorial Cemetery Committee, the Girls’ Club, the Welfare Branch which undertakes the dispatch of hampers to the Mental Hospital—had all been well maintained. Two special efforts for the collection of funds were mentioned in the report. The first was the assistance given in connection with the Street Day in aid of the Mayor’s fund for the relief of the unemployed. The members of the reserve, with Mrs. Beales as leader, succeeded in collecting £42 for the fund. Later in'tbe year a further effort, was by Mrs.. Beales and members of the reserve in connection with Poppy Day. when the very substantial sum of £76/15/- was collected.

The report recorded "the wonderful devotion to the cause of the reserve \vhich has been shown by the hon. organiser, Mrs. Porter, to whose unflagging interest and enthusiasm the successful history of the reserve over a long period of years Is very largely due.” In seconding the motion for adoption of the report and balance-sheet proposed by Mrs. Tripp. Mr. Wright said that the Women’s National Reserve, through is various activities, had not only made its influence felt in New Zealand, but had earned the respect of all classes of the community. The movement was established for the purpose of giving help, regardless of creed, class, or nationality ,to all who needed assistance. The balance-sheet showed that the organisation had made but a slight loss of £4/11/7 on the year’s work. This was highly satisfactory, and was a silent testimony to the excellent business capacity of the various committees. Welfare Work. Analysing the reports of the committees, Mr. Wright said it was pleasing to notice that the object of the welfare branch was to brighten the lives of the women and children at Porirua Mental Hospital by a systematic hamper of goods throughout the year. This was excellent service and could not be too highly commended. Patients in the institution wore left to themselves, and many were visited only by relatives. Those who had no relatives were entirely isolated from the outside world and did not, know what it was to receive even a word of sympathy from visitors unattached to the institution. The welfare branch had risen to the occasion and organised the necessary machinery for supplying the patients with creature comforts, as well as sympathy. It was gratifying beyond measure to learn that interest in this branch, in spite of the depression, continued to grow, and he was certain no single individual in the community could do other than heartily congratulate the committee on its wonderful success. Six years ago only a few hampers were collected. whilst to-day no fewer than 17 well-filled hampers were sent to Porirua. to the joy ajid benefit of the inmates. It was not too much to say that this work would certainly help some of the patients to recover their mental equilibrium. Memorial Cemetery. "The soldiers and sailors’ memorial cemetery committee has done excellent work.” he continued., “When the Women's National Reserve undertook the care of the memorial cemetery, I had the honour of being chairman of the committee of the Wellington City Council that controlled the cemetery. Therefore I was in a position to see the women at work. It was most encouraging to observe the careful, systematic way in which they handled the job. No pains were too great. Nothing was too small. Anything that would improve the grounds and was within roach financially was carried out. They erected the Litch Gate. They provided the sundial and the stone steps. The Girls’ Club, which originally undertook to place flowers on the graves of the soldiers, and did it most effectively, for various reasons had attached itself to the welfare branch, and still continued

to show to the relatives of the deceased and to all visitors to the cemetery that the boys whose lives were prematurely cut off were not forgotten.” Residential Nursery. “My remarks would be incomplete if I made no reference to the Residential Nursery. Scores of men and women in 'Wellington remember with gratitude the assistance given to them by the nursery. In the homes where sickness appears it is a boon to have the childlen cared for until the mother is able to resume her duties. No one except those who have experienced illness Sb the home know what a blessing the nursery has proved, and I venture to say that the mothers and, in some cases, the fathers whose children were placed within its hospitable quarters will never forget the benefit received, and in years to come will sing the praises of this branch of the Reserve. “1 sincerely compliment, the executive, the committees of the various tranches, and the women of the National Reserve, and say that they deserve the thanks of the community for the splendid work they are doing and for the satisfactory results. Mrs. F. Porter, the organiser, is a most capable noman and a meed of credit is due to her for the report, which so clearly shows the excellent year's work and makes most pleasant reading." Officers Elected. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Dominion president, Mrs. Corliss; president of Wellington district, Mrs. Tripp: vice-presidents to be elected by the executive; hon. secretary, Mrs. Suell: assistant secretary, Miss Wiltshire; hon. treasurer. Mrs. Parkinson ; hon. organiser. Mrs. Porter; executive committee, Mesdames Tripp, Corliss, Guthrie, C. E. Adams. Hargraves, Taylor. Burgess. Porter. Alt. Gibbons. Tofiks, Snell. Parkinson, Wells. Jas. Findlay, M.8.E., Beales, Otway. F. W. Boyd, Misses Freeman and Wiltshire. The president expressed heartiest thanks to all who bad helped to make the work of the Reserve what it was, to all those who had worked in the various branches (local), in the various sub-centres, in the different activities; also special thanks to the T. G. Macprthy trustees, the Returned Soldiers’ Association for donation from Rose Day for the Memorial Cemetery, the Commercial Travellers’ Association, the trustees of the estate of Colonel Moorhouse, the executors in the estate of Lady Stout, Rugby Football Union, the Press, hon. solicitors, Messrs. Findlay, Hoggard and Morrison, Messrs. Carmen and Wright, the hon. physician to the nursery, and the hon. auditors, Messrs. Dymock. McShane and Sclanders and Mr. Alexander.