WAR WORK FOR WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16671, 16 October 1917, Page 6

WAR WORK FOR WOMEN.

I 0 !' , QUESTION OF OVERLAPPINGi TWO POINTS OF VIEW. The possibility of a certain amount of 1 overlapping with the work of. the Women's ' Patriotic League lias been suggested as ' the result of the establishment of the Women's Mutual Aid Society War Fund, 1 recently approved by the Minister for Internal Affairs. In the course. o| an . interview regarding the establishment by the Women's Mutual Aid Society' of a " war fund," the Mayoress, Mrs.' Gunson, yesterday said that in her opini6nt.it was undesirable to multiply such organisations. There were sufficient leagues'- 'and associations in Auckland now to cope with ill the demands of patriotic work. Th; Patriotic and War Relief Association carried on relief work for soldiers and dependants. The Women'ij Patriotic League co-operated with the provincial association, and had established a committee whose special i work it was to caro for soldiers' wives und dependants. In this work the com--1 mittee was assisted by the Sisters, who worked under the direction and guidance of the Patriotic Association itself. The principal associations ind -leagues in Auckland,-such as the Women's Patriotic League, which was founded in 1914, the ■ Victoria League, and Red CroaS Auckland , Division, were all supported by subsidiary I organisations of great value. It appeared quite unnecessary that a further organisation should be authorised to publicly ' collect funds for work which already had. been so well done. It meant further confusion in the minds bf the public. " We welcome," said Mrs. Gunson, " cooperation and a.l possible forms of assistance in the work for our soldiers, but undue competition- does not make for efficiency in the work, and on that account the creation of further organisations is to be regretted." " The attitude of the Women's Mutual Aid Society was explained by Mrs. von Sturmer, secretary of the society, who stated that in her opinion there would be no overlapping.' "We want to take up special branches of work not at present touched I by the Women's Patriotic League," she said, " for. we consider there is ample scope for a smaller society to supplement the work already being done. Outside the packing and ministering work, there is not a great deal for many of the women to do. and plenty are eager and willing to help in various ways. For the last 19 months the Wdraen's Mutual Aid Society has been carrying on patriotic work, and j wo now want to Lave a properly-consti-, tuted fund to carry on this work, We will carry on the same as before, only instead' of paying out all our money as soon as we receive it we want to have a fund, under the direction of a special management committee, to use as occasion arises. There will be many thousands of men coming back from time to time, and instead of having to organise an entertain- • ment at short notice to heln in cnmA i 1

|. luvttv IW uuuiv lIUVICU tv UOijJ lu Rome special direction, we will have a fund from I which to draw. Full details have not as yet, however, been arranged, as permission to establish the fund has only just been received." . With regard to tie needs of the .soldiers, ~ Mrs. von Stiirmer stated the society inJ tended primarily to help the returned men, v and hot thoso on service, whose needs £ were already attended to by the Women's P* Patriotic League. The same stand was 8 ' taken with regard to soldiers' dependants, ® who were being oared for by the Relief w Committee and the Soldiers' Dependants ®- Committee of the Women's Patriotic * Leatrae. While help would always be - 1, given if application were made, theft was no intention of making any special effort in this direction. T — .