WOMEN’S NATIONAL RESERVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12784, 30 October 1919, Page 9

WOMEN’S NATIONAL RESERVE.

« ——— FINAL MEETING., i A very pleasan b final meeting of the i Christchurch Women's National Re- ; serve took place yesterday afternoon in • the Art Gallery, when there was a i mrge attendance. The proceedings 5 were partly social and partly business connected with the winding-up of afj Burs. Professor Macmillan Brown gave > j?„ lnterest i n S. address, mainly on the , different conditions of life of the women of the Eastern and Western countries. He also spoke of the signs cf unrest in the East, and warned his audience against a disregard of this t danger. Mrs William Wood, who has been . president of the reserve since its incepJ? 0I L welcomed the members to the . ", na ' .meeting of the Women’s National Reserve as a war organisation, as it > Proposed to disband the branches f keep only a _ small executive and central branch going to meet occasioni i I y i L case nee d- It was intended that_ the only work the reserve would continue to do would he that of attendmg to the graves •'of soldiers who had ~ r ?‘ a *' lve3 to care for them. Mrs Wood, in a short resume of the work • dt the reserve, said that a public meeting of women was called in 1915 * 0 tom an- organisation to register, and classify women who would he willing W uR men’s places. - This was done, and. the reserve sent women, .to various positions, on the understanding that they would relinquish them when necessary. Mrs Wheel referred to the manner in which departing soldiers and returning soldiers had been entertained; hgw delicacies had been sent-to men in. hospitals;, how the wives and mothers iof ( soldiers had been entertained and yisitedvih their homes; how the reserve had : helped other 1 , [ war organisations; and also said that the; Women's National Reserve had helped every natnotic cause that it was in its power to /assist; Reference was made to the manuer m which members helped to fight ; the influenza epidemic last year. Mrs Wood said she desired W thank* all those who had helped the and specially thanked the newspapers of Christchurch and the Citizens’ Defence Corps. - Airs Newell and. Mrs Beauchamp Bane, two members of the executive committee, spoke a few words eulogising* the competent manner in which

Mrs Wood had catried ont her arduous duties as president. During the afternoon letters of appreciation of the Women's National E,esenre were read from Sister M'Rae, of the Chalmers Military Hospital, and from the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. At the conclusion of the business afternoon tea was dispensed.