TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1909. WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC LEAGUE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13932, 13 April 1909, Page 4

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1909. WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC LEAGUE.

To Cambridge ladies belongs the honour of having- inaugurated^ a movement having for its object the raising 1 of a fund by the women of New Zealand towards the cost of the Dreadnought which Sir Joseph Ward has offered, in the name of the Dominion, to present to the Empire. Miss ltochfort, who is the prime mover in the matter, in the course of a spirited address at Cambridge last week, said that whatever their doubts as to the wisdom of the gift, she believed the women of New Zealand, and men too, would stand shoulder to shoulder and see that the gift, in which their national honour was involved, was given whole-heartedly. The step New Zealand had taken might be far-reaching in the good it would do, and it rested with them all that this patriotic feeling, which prompted Sir Joseph "Ward, should be reflected through them, and thus lead up to national good. She hoped that every woman and girl in New Zealand would have an opportunity of showing their interest in this national movement, by subscribing something towards defraying the cost of the ship. It was decided to form a league to be called the Women's Patriotic League, with Lady Ward as president, and Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, central treasurer. The Mayors of the various cities and boroughs, and chairmen of local bodies will be asked to convene meetings of women and girls, and the subscriptions asked for are to be from Is to 2s. It was also decided to ask editors of newspapers to act as local treasurers, but, while sympathising .fully with the object of the League, we would suggest that it might be better to have the inoveinc'nt conducted .entirely by women, so that it may be in fact as well as in name, a Women's Patriotic League. Miss A. S. Rochfort, of Cambridge, is the honorary general secretary, to wjioni we refer those interested for further information.