FOR KING & COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2685, 3 February 1916, Page 3

FOR KING & COUNTRY

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S LEAGUE A TALK WITH THE SECRETARY. Mrs. G'. E. Bolitho, general organising/secretary of the Australian Women's ■National League, Melbourne, who is at present visiting Wellington, had some interesting things to say of tile league and its work in tho course of an interview with a Dominion representative yesterday, Mrs. Bolitho has been connected with the league ever since its inception eleven years ago, and for some time she has been general organising secretary for the whole of Victoria. Founded eleven years ago, with a membership of five, it has now reached a membership of 52,000, and has 540 branches scattered throughout the State. Its first president was Janet, Lady Clarke, and after her death some little time ago Mrs. IYH. Hughes, the wife of Brigadier-General Hughes, who is fighting with the Australian forces at the front, became its president. Mrs. Hughes's son is also in Egypt-, and her daughter' is nursing at the Harefield Hospital in England, so it will be seen that in every way tho family is doing its share for King and Country. "The great success which has attended the leaguo is very largely owing to the ability of its presidents," Mrs. Bolitho stated. "Mrs. Hughes gives up all her time to the work of the league, which is always going on, no matter what is happening. Every Monday the executive meets for the transaction of business, and sits all day, and on other days of the week different

committees meet and have tlfeir all-day sittings dealing with branch reports, finance, etc." Tho league, which is organised in support of the Liberal Party, has for its motto "For God and Country," and has for its objectives "(a) loyalty to the Throne and Empire, (b) the combating of Socialism, (3) the education of women in politics, (4) the safeguarding of the homo, of women and children." It is absolutely a woman's organisation, and controls its own affairs, tho only part that men play iu its activities being in the printing of its paper "The Woman," published at tho beginning of every njonth, and of which Mrs. A. Robinson is the honorary editress. As ,a matter of fact, a very large proportion of the work done for the league by its executive and members is largely honorary, and the organising secretary, whose offices are situated in Collins Street, Melbourne, has neceusarily a large amount of work to copo with, and a considerable amount of travelling to face. There is, in connection with the league's headquarters, a club as well, which is a great meet-ing-place for members, and in which a considerable amount of activity is carried on. The league is not- what might be called a militant force in the political lifo of Australia, as it prefers to work in a quiet, persuasive, almost indirect way, and some of the important measures on . the Statute Book are tho results of its energies, one of the most important of which is the earlier closing of hotels, brought about within the la6t six months, and compelling hotels to close at half-past nine instead of at eleven or thereabouts. A Maternity Bill was another important measure, and the league has taken a keen interest in tho opening up of roads and road-making, immigration, and other matters that powerfully affect the welfare of tho people.

The League's Work for the Empire. In its "loyalty to the' Throne and tha Empiro"—the first of its planks—tho league has a splendid record to show. Since the war began, and Australia set to work to send her coutingents of men abroad, it has concentrated its energies uiwn patriotic work of all kinds. Throughout Victoria, members are conl!pcted with Red Cross work, and in every way in which women can work for the Empiro and for the alleviation of tho sufferings of their men they have worked.

its first notable effort was in tho matter of motor ambulances. The suggestion was put forth that a motor ambulance would bo a very great boon to the wounded men, 'and so enthusiastically was the matter taken up that instead of one, the league was able to supply four, each one costing about £580 or thereabouts. This was contributed purely by. league menibers, and even then there was money enough over to. start an A.W.N.L. War Fund with the surplus. This nucleus has been constantly subscribed to, and it has contributed to several patriotic purposes, including £100 to the Belgian Relief Fund, £50 towards a motor ambulance for Broadmeadows, £20 to the French Bed Cross Society, £25 to provide a bed at the Base Hospital, £30 to tho Allies' Day appeal, £10 each to the Serbian Fund, the Lady Stanley Recreation Hall, Broadmeadows, and the milk fund for Belgian babies, and £87 18s. in socks and cholera belts for the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League. Quite apart from all this, menibers of the league provided seven tons of comforts for soldiers by the special "Soldiers' Gift Day" effort, held in connection with Australia Day. It has also assist, ed in various other, ways ever since.

Fighting Disease for ths Soldiers. Its work in providing condensed milk for the soldiers in the trenches is another effort that is too important to bo passed over. Owing to tho scarcity of milk, large numbers ofitho soldiers were becoming seriously ill at the front, whilst the Germans, with better foresight, had seen to_ the equipment of their aoJdters in this respect, owing to the nation having as a whole decided to

use as little milk as possible for home consumption, so that a large supply could be sent to the front. It was said that as a result of their sacrifice, for every ten men of the forces fighting against them who fell victims to disease, only one German soldier became ill, owing to the provision of condensed milk. !'<> fight against this, and to do their share in equalising the matter as much as possible, the council of tho Australian Women's National League established a milk fund, which has been well supported, a large sum of money having been subscribed, and 6ome hundreds of eases of condensed milk haviii" been forwarded by each transport which left Australia to the men at the front. Several of the country branches of tho league have, on their own initiative, provided travelling kitchens for tho Australians at the front, in addition to their activities, and have sent gifts of all kinds to the Base Hospital. Reading matter is supplied to the forces, and a war work party has been formed to meet once a . week and make comforts for tho soldiers.

As may be gathered from the foregoing, the league is playing nil important part in tho national life of Australia, and in its work for the Empire, and no doubt as time goes on the members of the league will find still further fields for their activities in the many and difficult problems which will have to be faced, even before the war is at an end.