NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2617, 12 November 1915, Page 9

NATIONAL RESERVE

SCOPE OF REGULATIONS

WOMEN'S WORK

Tho conference of delegates from various branches of tho National Resorvo throughout New Zealand and the Citizens' Defence Corps, Christchurch, which has assembled m Wellington for tho purpose of framing regulations under tho Defenoe -Act of la6t session, resumed its sittings yesterday morning, Colonol Porter, Dominion Commandant, presided, and in addition to the delegates mentioned yesterday, Major O'Toole, representing Southland, attended. Tho various clauses and conditions of the proposed regulations wero further considered. Those regulations will be l submitted for the consideration of the Defenoe Department, and when amended or approved, as may be considered necessary, will bo finally notified by the Governor in the Gazette. At the present time, pending suc!h confirmation, the details cannot be made known. Generally, however, it may bo stated that the regulations will bring into uniformity the whole of the various organisations of tho National Reserve throughout the Dominion, and provision is made for an administrative council of administration, designated the governing body of the National Reserve, in which the general administration will be vested, subject to the conditions and regulations laid down. Tho district administrations will be very largely vested in the district commandants to be appointed to tho several districts under the Act, and will,-subject to the council, ho respohsibta for the proper administration within their own boundaries. _ Much larger powers and_ responsibilities will be vested' in the distriot commandants. The groups or divisions of the,districts. will_ also be largely independently administered by the officers commanding ■groups, who will be responsible to the distriot commandant. The executive group committees already appointed under the Defence rules will still continue to administer their several groups under the general rules now passed, and their responsibilities have be ( en also very much extended, particularly on the independent financial side of the Reserve's requirements. In the general regulations passed the women's branch will be recognised as a National Reserve organisation, and has representation on the council. The importance of tho work being undertaken by the women's branch was fully recognised by tho conference, and' its objects will bo extended and furthered the whole Dominion as an essential part of the National Reserve. Certain members of the conference remaining in Wellington will meet this morning to deal with a number of genera] questions outside the regulations, w-hich may be possibly submitted personally to the Defence 3fillister.

By special invitation a deputation from the Wellington branch of the Women's National Reserve waited on the conference to discuss matters for tho mutual benefit of both branches. It consisted of/ Dr. Platts-Mills (president), Mrs. (Colonel) Porter, Mrs. HallThompson, Mrs. Henry Hall, Mrs. G. Robinson, Mrs. Tripp, Mrs. TAM,' Wilford, Mrs. Mathew Holmes, and Miss Ward (lion, secretary). Addressing the 1 conference, Dr.. Platts-Mills said the National Reserve had been constituted for home defence. It _said to tho men who were willing"You go, and we will defend New Zealand if necessary. We look on ourselves," she continued,-"as a recruiting, agency. _We can do some work whioh will relieve you. Any, kind of work which a woman,can- do our members will endeavour to disoharge." A national register of women was, therefore, dbsirable. What had been done in England was indeed imperative in New Zealand; where women could fill in part of tlie war organisation, such as iiiurses, sewing, clerioal, and other light work. In England women wero working as letter-carriers, commissionaires, tram work ' (2000 were , training for this branch of the national service), railway train conductors, in munition, factories, and so on. If that was done. by.: women . in England it might as easily be done here. It was with that, idea that Mrs. Porter started the Women's National. Reserve in. Wellington. That at once appealed to the women of the city. The Defence Department had called on tho Reserve' for clerical assistance throughout New Zealand. The head of the Post and Telegraph Department might bo requiring assistance later on. Women's branohes of the Reserve were required throughout New Zealand. ' Several had already been established, and the request of' the deputation was that the men's National Reserve should give its aid in .that direction.

Miss Ward read a letter which had been received from Colonel Gibbon, Chief of the General Staff, thajiking the Women's National Reserve for the splendid efforts its' members had put forth on behalf of the Department in oonneotion with the work of the Records Office. Eighty women were working in that branch, in three shifts.' '• It was reported by Captain Baraga-wama/t-h that a women's branch, of, the Reserve had been formed at Christchuroh. Colonel Stoneham .reported that twelve mouths ago Dunedin had turned tho_movement down,' not seeing where it could be of assistance to the military, but it now took a different view, and steps would be taken to form a branch in Otago.