WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

Evening Star, Issue 16051, 1 March 1916, Page 7

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

A' meeting of South 'Dunediri ~'women was held last night'in SI. Andrew's Hall, Bridgman street. Mrs Riley, presided. Mrs Patrick Marshall was the principal speaker. She stated that these meetings had _ been arranged in order that the officials of the league might have an opportunity of explaining the objects of the' organisation and to appeal to every woman in Otago. They appealed to every woman in Otago to help in one of two ways. They asked that if possible 'the women would become active members of the Reserve, and if that was impossible, to show their active sympathy by becoming honorary members.' Their main object was, of course, to serve their country. In the present crisis all the energy of the nation was required to meet the situation, and every _ person in the State should be mobilised so that it could be readily known what help" was available when needed. They all knew of the splendid work the Dunedin women had already done. First, of. course, came the mothers who had given their son 3 to fight, and even to die, for their country. For them they had the' greatest admiration and reverence. (Applause.) They knew,.too, of the grand work done by the Women's Patriotic Association, and the Overseas Club, whioh, day after day, for 18 months, had steadily worked on at everything and anything that had come to their hands. Then there was the Red Cross Association, which had been so thoroughly organised, as well as other organisations which had done such splendid work. In spite of. all this there was still room for . further efforts, and they were asking the women of Otago to enrol so that every hour they had to give might be utilised to undertake work which must more and more be needed as more men went to the front. For those who could give their whole time there were many openings. Already in New Zealand women were employed with success—in banks, and in insurance and merchants' offices. Already in this town they had been asked for workers, "and she had it on very good authority that quite soon a great deal of secretarial work would be wanted for civic and patriotic business. At the Reserve might only be an organisation, but when conscription came—and it must come—a great demand for women workers would arise, | and it would be the greatest help to our country if they could fall in prepared and ready to do their share in keeping the ! machinery of the State going, and if I victorious peace—they wanted "no othershould come soon, and the men returned, their services might not be needed, but their energies would not have beerr I wasted, and she undertook to say that j everyone would have benefited in some way. Proceeding, she said another of the ! aims _of the Reserve would be to help recruiting, by the great influence a woman I could exert over men. They wanted this ! influence to be exercised in such a way j that there would be a constant stream I recruits. She concluded with an appeal to ; all present to enrol under the banner of I the Women's National Reserve. Miss M'Lean explained, to those present how to fill in the enrolment cards, and after a number of recruits had signed their cards the meeting terminated with the singing of the National Anthem. The meeting to-night will be at the Presbyterian Hall, So. Clair.