WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 698, 6 May 1916, Page 7

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE.

NELSON BRANCH BUSY. The Nelson branch of the W.N..8. appears to'be busying itself in a number of useful ways, and would really seem i to have had more opportunities for ser- ] vice than any of the other centres. In ! the course of a report it is stated that i some of the members have been em- j ployed regularly at the Fruit Canning! Works at Stoke. "We were able to : make particularly satisfactory arrange-j meats as to pay and conditions in this instance, as there was a serious short-! age in labour in Hie particular departments requiring labour suitable for women," the report goes on to state. "Unfortunately, owing to the shortage of insulated space, the export trade iu apples is this year very small; consequently there is no demand on the part of the growers for women applepackers. This was quite an unforeseen circumstance when we held the classes, but we were not sorry that we were prepared to assist the fruit industry, if necessary, and we hope that by next season shipping and marketing conditions will have improved. "In two instances we have been called upon by employers wanting clerical assistance',, and in both cases wo have been able to suit both employers and employed to perfection. "In spite of the fact that there is a branch of the St. .lohn Ambulance Association in Nelson, we felt that we would be doing good work in securing our members who were not prepared to take up a full professional course, but desired to help in the event of there being a shortage of trained nurses. With this end in view, we approached the Hospital Board, which acceded to our request that some partial training should be given in the public hospital. After some delay, we have now placed three members, who go into the hospital for three, months on four mornings a week, from (5 a.m. until such time as the work is done in the wards in the morning. In addition, they receive a course of five lectures from the superintendent. "We have also two members receiving training in private hospitals, one in a surgical hospital and the other iu a maternity home. "On the occasion of tne printing of the jubilee edition of one of the local papers, we were called upon in an emergency to find some casual labour, which we were able to do satisfactorily. In addition to this work, which is all within our scope, wo were asked to provide voluntary labour for picking tomatoes to send to the training camps. We were met with a ready response, and this led to the employment of a member in an orchard as packer and picker. Should conscription come into force, we feel we are preparing our way to meet any emergency." The Blenheim Branch of the Women's Reserve is also active. Mrs Rogers, the president, is away for a month, and Mrs Lightfoot is taking her place. The reserve is doing an amount of work for the Red Cross and Liverpool Fund. The first aid and ambulance classes were well attended, and the members passed examinations most satisfactorily. A number of members take entire charge of the Soldiers' Club room. At the recent reunion of the Men's National Reserve, the Women's Branch was well represented; they also were responsible for the refreshments, jand helped considerably in making the evening the very great success it was.