WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 130, 1 June 1917, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT.

VICTORIA LEAGUE

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING

Although the weather was most unfavourable a good number of members and officials of the Victoria League Assembled at the Esperanto Hali yesterday 'afternoon on the occasion of the annual meeting. The president, Miss Coates, wm in the chair, and the meeting was attended by Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P Luke), Mrs. G. W. Russell, Mrs. Hanaiij Mrs; Hope-Lewis. Members of the council included Mrs. L. Blundell, Mrs. J. Mackenzie, Mrs. Shirtcliffe, Mrs. Samuel, Mrs. Cotrigan, and Messrs. C. R. Smith and Darroch.

The annual l-eport presented by the secretary) Mrs. Chatfielct, 6tated that during the year there had been, a little more social wol'k, especially'in the way of sending members to the league in London, the latest being Miss Laura Salmond, who was met by Misj Drayton on her arrival in London, and taken every care of, that was necessary: The wort of sending medical comforts and hospital clothing by transports has been steadily continued, the ceases now numbering 169. The packing is still done by Miss Coatos and Mrs. L. Blundell at Miss Coates's residence. At the request of the British Red Cross Society* four delegates (Miss Coates* Mrs. E. Hadfield, Mrs. Corliss, and Mrs. Eankine Brown) attended a meeting of 28 representatives of different societies td make arrangements for a. special collecting day in aid of the Red Cross, also with regard to the establishment of a Rod Cross shop. Tlie leagUe gaVe all assistance in its power on Red' Cross Day, aiid Miss Coates was appointed as the leagtie representative on the permanent Eed Cross Shop Committee. It was agreed to take the shop once in three months, and the first day was very successful, the sum of fiS3.'los being haiided ovfer to Mrs. Firth, the shop secretary. The next day totalled £83.

The is~ub-committee appointed to arrange the league day consisted of the president arid, tlie secretary (ex-bfficio) and 'Mesdaities E; Muir,, Swanson, AVest, yon Haast, Larnach, Lever, Campbell, and Miss M'Caw. Mrs. yon Haast agreed to- establish .'a sewing party at her. house, and—some very beautiful work was the result. Mrs.Lai'nach, Mrs. Stott, and Mrs. Lever also contributed many dainty novelties. On Returned Sdldiers' / Day the league took part of the Sydney-street soldiers' stall, and gave very material help both iii monby and goods. At Christinas time. the secretary and Other members of the league; assisted by members of the W.N.E. and N.Z.N.A. worn en 'is branchj organised a Christmas , party for the dependents of soldiers and sailors, which was attended by over 3000 persons, and was a great success. Tho league has been represented on the camp entertainment committee, which has,, given about 200 entertainments at Trentham during the year—an average, of four . eacli. week, of \v~hich thfe Victoria^ League has usually contributed two ea.ch month and £32 towards the fund. I'h'e conCiei't party,, in addition, to this; lias given concerts at the Taumarti Military Hospital, Lowry Bay, "the Victoria Military Hospital; and one at the- Con-,' cert .Chamber. Half of tho profits of the' last were paid into the league general fund, and the other reserved for presehts to the. sailors" oiI,H.M.S. . After consultation with tllpj captain it was resblVßd tb liavo silver iden T tifi'datioii discs madfe fdr officers and men, as thoso pi-ovid'ed are of very inferior quality They were presented by Miss Coates and all regarded theiri as a lasting and pleasant memento df the league and Neiv Zealand; The- committee thanked all the friends ajid helpers who contribute -to tho medical comforts, particularly the regulir Subscribers of nioriey, the Getir Ctthipany, which supplies all tho meat extract, the licensed victuallers, and many leading riierchantS' for regular and. kind help in. the equipment. Miss Coates thanked all those who make—and, have made fpr a long tiihe—the hospital .clothing and Bed Cross equipment. Thanks are also given to the concert -(kitty foi- their fcbntributibn to thb funds, and to tho officer^, cbuncilj ariel executive cbmriiitteij.

. The brilalice-sh'eefc showed a credit of £ii. 17s, the total receipt,-! being £82 2s, Jilicliiainff £Sl 7s 9d. nia-de by ,t;-he girls', concert.. The expdriditiire was £67 4s 2d. The. Soldiers' Comforts has expended. £196,.5s 9d, a,nd lias a balance in,Hand,of. £16 12s 2d.

Mr. C. R. Smith moved the adoptioh of _ the report and balanceHshe'et. Ih «36ing so he etilogised .the Work of thfe rea.gue- which, before the war, had done much in welding together difiere~jt parts, of the Empire. Ho spoke Of 'MisS _ 'Coates's wbrk as president, and also. iri. the sending .of boxes, of medical comforts on board.t.he.iro'op'sliips, which was m-nch appioijiatkl by tho medical men.

■, ?**■ ,Darroch, in seconding the motioil, said. that special thanks wei-e due to tho Licensed Victuallers who had supplied nil the. spirits necessary for the Medical cbiiifovta casses, arid were prepared to go on. doing, so. The same could be said of tlie Gear Company, which liikl supplin'd all t,he meat extract net!c.«(iry. Tlie (iritis' of Messrs. Levifa. aricl Co., W. a.ritl G. Turnbiill, Joseph. Nathan, Baiiiiatyno, Laery antl Co., Bahiihtyiitt 'd-nd Huii^i-, aiitl Thompson Lr-js. wct'o givirig tho h'ecessEuy groceries, in rotatioH witii iiady generosity. Ho spoke in prnisp, of.. Miss Coates's work, also of Mi's. Chatfiekrs, as secretary. .'i.%o af'tcrho'on, wiiicii w.ai.more of a social, than a .business, character, was piissccl pleasjviiHy. .Sorigs were..rendered by Miss Siillivan, Miss,Nola Hpybittle, Mrs. .Peacock, and lira. .Stevenson (AilcM-ind); and ,a. d'ueit by Misses Sullivan and ITaytittilo. Jlrs. . ICidston played tho acconipaniments. Afterwards te;i was luindcd round by members of tli-v Girls' League. Bbfor-i t\\o. itieetihg closed, Miss Coatos thanked Lady Liverpool for attending, 1 iilikl expressed; the gratification of the members that she came on juifch a wet. afterhoo'ii to tlie league's ineoting. Her Excellency, in reply, said, Bho took a. great interest in tile league's work, ami would .always be pleased to ilo nil iii her power to fok wnrd it.

. Mi's. Cbi'lissgliVe: .0110 Her charming arid interesting a'ddressei .during tlie aflcnioon, tracing the rise and organisation of. women's .■patriotic, work in England, paid and . unpaid, from tlie first months of,.confusion and surprise into which tho nation was plunged after .tltfe _ declaration iof war. The first rnu-hitioiiei-si iiunitidred lfj'o, .iihd Were started undei; tho most uncomfortable cii'cumstaljces, and. with considerable illwill from the men concerned. However, tliey iiidro ~fclia.ii, "made good"; tliey worked libroically, and were tlie pioneei's.of the many tlidiis^lis working now. Very interesting-accounts of tlie efforts to make llio work on the land, and tho women offering fit suitably \v~is also givcii, iihd Mi's. Corliss received very hcirfcy applause at the --'conclusion of her address. . ' . . ■

Surprise' Bag Day came in with sunshine, which is most fortunate, though unexpected after the downpour of rain yesterday, and the energetic committee and convenor were at their good work bright and eaj'ly. The assurance was given that every bag was well worth the money charged, and in a. very large number of cases, worth a great deal more, and there will be many much-envied lucky purchasers to-day. Judging from appearances the committee will come very near to the handsome sum they hopeNt'o realise for our sick and wounded soldiers.

Mrs. F. Dyer and her daughter have returned from a visit to the Wairarapa. Mr. and Mrs. J. Perry, Makuri, are staying at the Hotel Cecil. Mrs. A. E. Curry, of Napier, is staying- With. Mrs. G. W Bussell, Moles-worth-street. Mr:- and Mrs. W. Beetham and Misß Cameron are staying at the R<Syal Oak Hotel. Another highly successful evening, both on account of sales and entertain-' menti took place at the Guiklford-terrace I-lall last night. The dancing of little Zelma M'Cai-roli, a pupil of Miss Gladysl Campbell, was very gre.itly admired. She danced an Irish jig, gave an exhibition of skipping, and, in response to art enebrej gave a clevel J recitatitiii. The Tliorndon Marist Brothel's boys' proprovided the rtst of an excellent enter--taiiimeht. To-ilight there will be, a great variety of fancy dancing, given b$ pupils of Miss Guise. To-morrow evening the cooking competition will be for scones, made by girls under sixteen years' :of age. The entertainment to-morrow will be provided by the talented concert party organised by Mr.. and Mrs. H. F. Wood. Mrs. J. J. Clarke, of 5, Henry-street; Kilbirnie, will, be very pleased to receive tins df the size's required at the 1 Town Hall for packing goods for soldiers.. Persons having even a few ar£ asked to Ufing them along as they all help to niake up the large number now required; A start "lias been made by the ladies of Wanganui in the matter of food-stuff-growing during the irar. The' Wariganui Herald states that, iri conjunction with the Warigahui-Waitotara Board of Efficiency' Trustees, 'tie Wanganni branch of the Women's National Reserve has arranged a scheme' to -undertake the cultivation of such areas of land as are available for the 1 purpose of potato-grewing. The trustees have ari-aiiged the firiahciiil side of the propbsitibh, arid ithey will adva-nce 1 itioney fdr sedd, implements, iriiinurej etc.. The wet proceeds >i'e. to be the property of those tinderiaking ihe work, The Women's. .National Reserve will provide the. labour. It is understood 1 ■that several plots, have already beeil offered, and it is hoped to cultivate 20 br 30 acres of Wanganui East Park. A scheme of vei-y practical patriotism Ms,been formulitecl with gi;eat success in. New South Wales by S. Richard Arthur, M.L.A., wh'ei'eby homes v for wouhclea soldiers' and war widows are erected, during week ends, by' artisans and patriotic . men and women of all classes. Some interesting pictures are 1 shown of the .land befpre the .clearing was done, aiid then the results of a day's effort 011 the pdi't of several hundred men; consisting of some of the best-kHown prbfessipnal and business men of Sydney. 'These intend to sacrifice their' week-end leisure and recreation arid give iip time to this 1 work; School-boys cleared, the land at ahothei' place," and .the ''Techhia". Home was ei'ecfce'cl altogether ,by school boys, under supervision. ''Eatonia" ivas built by the employees >df a firm in^.Sydney, who gave an aggregate of 2900 hours <)f labour and contributed £200 worth of material. Another was built by ofEcers" of the City Council; most.of Vh'onl were Unaccustomed to iiiahiiai labbiir. If. Australia has shown a lack bf patriotib spirit in ,one way, it has certainly done remarkably well iri others. .

A child-welfare coiifereiice , recently held ih , Sydney was opened by Lady Helen MunrO-iTerguson; who, in thb course of her address, stated that l)r. Truby King, bf New Zealdiid had won a world-wide reputatioij, and, aided b.y Lady Plrinket; He had done iriiic'h to put the Dominion in the proud position of having the lowest 1 ratfe in the world. (Applause.) Ih LMy Helen's own district ih Scotland great improvement had been noted sirice thb appointment of a special district nurse, „who. gave. .all. information ~is reqiiired. The Cdmmbnwealth Statistician, (Mr. G H. Kiiibbs) read ,a paper, cpl tho. subject of ihfaiitilb mortality and Its significance, initially, he said, the "death rate was so great that, if it was maintained, all would have vanished ere 68-days Had passed. In Australia the average' rate, for the Erst, day would extinguish in 106 days ail .born.., In ho 'other place, excepting perhaps New Zealand, .would, even this short period be covered. But the rate of passing away fell off with amazing rapidity for tlie first week, arid then more) slowly till about the twelfth year, ivlieii it was only, about l-3400th part df what it was at the, very beginning .qf life, after ,' whicji' it increased with greater ,ariel greater rapidity.' In Australia, the total mortality for the first yeat of life had falen off at the rate of 1 per cent, per year far the past 30 years. '