WOMEN'S WORK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2693, 12 February 1916, Page 11

WOMEN'S WORK

HOW IT IS BEING ORGANISED | , _ I [By Imogen.] The Women's National Reserve, although it has not been a year in existence (only six months) has done work that while it is valuable to the country at the present time, is likely to be still more helpful iu the emergencies that may yet await us as tlio war drags on its weary, wasteful way. . The chief aim of the Women's Reserve was to fit ivomeu and girls for the places of the men wlio wished to-iight fori their country, and so to free them for active service. To this end it has devoted much of its energies. • Incidentally it has done other work of a helpful nature, but that has belonged to side issues only, useful but subsidiary to the main end and aim. Since its inception, the Reserve has established its branches from Auckland to as far south as Invercargill, although, of course, that does not mean that every town and village has its brauch established. In the Wellington' military area, the largest area in the Dominion, which covers mos than half the North' Island, there are groups formed in Dannevirke, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Gisborne, Napier, Patea, and Wellington, the latter including several in the suburbs. In Dannevirke there are no fower than ten branches. Members have gone through the St. John Ambulance course, some belong to a very good rifle corps (ladies) that has been established, and arrangements are now being carried out to prepare girls to undertake clerical work. The Reserve has also contributed £107 to the St. _ John Ambulance Association for hospital ship remnremenSK. In Palmerston the same work in regard to preparing girls and women for clerical work is being undertaken. In Gisborne over 300 members have enrolled, and of these sixty girls have offered themselves for clerical fvork, and in quite a. number of places they have offered to assist in the industries of their particular districts. In addition to organising classes forpreparing girls to undertake clerical and commercial work ; the Napier branch of the Women's National Reserve has a very fine record of patriotic work behind it. In response to the appeal for sandbags -which was made some time ago, the committee and its workers sent over 3000 to the front. Thirty-eight lfcather waistcoats were forwarded by Ihe committee to the Countess of Liverpool Fund in Wellington; and later the matter of Christmas gifts for the soldiers at the front' occupied attention. As a result of their labours, eight cases (large) were forwarded to Egypt for distribution. Sewing for theJlalieno and Marama, and contributions of money were made to the Red Cross collection, and at tho present time the Reserve is making blanket coats for the wounded men who are taken from the base hospitals to the hospital ships. In addition equipment for stretchers bearing cot cases from tho train to tho anibulance i is being provided the equipment consisting of a kapoc mattress, 2 blankets, 2 sheets, 1 light rug for each stretcher. Another field of activity covered by the Napier branch is that of forming classes at which students are enabled to gain the St. Jolm Ambu-, lanco Association • certificate for home .nursing, etc. There are also signalling classes, and a rifle class at which each member pays for her own ammunition. The classes -for book-keeping, mental arithmetic, shorthand, and typewriting are well attended, and the interest which is taken in the Reserve is shown, by tho fact that there are very nearly: 300 active members,' with seventeen honorary members, and still_ more by the Tact that the financial position is sound,, the liabilities of the Reserve being nil. Throughout the military area a considerable number of members have gone in for the home nursing and first-aid classes, etc., iu connection with the St. John Ambulance Association. . In Nelson the fruit industry has received tho attention of tho Reserve. Classes for the packing of fruit have been formed, and are under the tuition of Mr. Hyde, Government Orchardist, who lias very kindly given his services for the forwarding of this ; work, and in Marlborough members are even doing harvesting work. In Wellington, the Reserve has secured offices in No. 157 Featherston Street, and there someone is always in attendance from II to 1 o'clock in the mornings and 2 to 5 in the afternoons to supply information as to the work of the league, its aims, and for fhe enrolment of members. This_ is a very necessary arrangement, as information is often sought after in regard to Reserve work. Classes for tho teaching of commercial subjects have been formed," and'will be started very shortly, and in this way opportunities will bo placed in the way of girls and women of fitting themselves to do tho work that is for the time being falling from the hands of the men through the exi-

gencios of the war. For a surprising number of girls this opportunity of fitting themselves for commercial life is the only one that has as yet come their way, and since the greatest good for the greatest number of people lias to js!e studied at these times, the committee is in this way doing its best to secure that good and to fill the breach as much as possible. In regard to patriotic work, a considerable number of its members has been helping for somo time past with the records of the Defence Department, and the Hutt Reserve has raised £10 for a Nurse Cavell memorial.

..It is the intention of the executive of the Women's National Reserve to make their organisation as complete a register of women's work in the Dominion as possible, and no doubt when the time comes to compile the National Register of women, the Reserve will be able to offer valuable assistance. It aims at being a national organisation for patriotic purposes, entirely free from class, creed, or political influence, and is on parallel lines with that of tlio Men's National Reserve, which the women's branch actively supplements in its nursing, ambulance, financial, and recruiting sections, apart from its own particular spheTe of operations of enrolling and instructing girls and women in the various branches of "work set out in the enrolment card. So anxious have 6ome of the members been to assist that they have even offered to drive milk carts to release men for tlio front. Up to the present, however, the Reserve has not, so far, as can bo judged, allowed its enthusiasm to run away with its judgment, ami so become embarrassing in its activities —tlio energy of tlio enthusiast is so apt to be misdirected, as experience has occasionally shown. Red Cross Tea. The Red Cross tea which was given by Mrs. Ivreeft at her residence, J£clburn Parade yesterday afternoon, was a very pleasant aifair, and combined with the pleasure of the afternoon was the knowledge that everyone present was assisting to provide hospital requirements lor the soldiers who have been suffering for their country. A large number of guests were present, and for their entertainment an interesting book competition was held, as ivell as fortune-telling upstairs. The book competition had been very cleverly carried out with coloured illustrations, representing the names of well-known current novels, which, as it is with most of these competitions, were most easiiy comprehended once the clue had been given. Miss Lawson and Mrs. Fenton were the prophetesses of the iir'ure. Tea was served in the dining-room, where the table had been arranged with dark crimson ribbons, arranged m the form of a cross, and vases of red Irish Elegance roses —exceedingly naturallooking artificial flowers, made by Mrs. Kreeft, the sale of which at the end of the. afternoon materially assisted with the financial contributions tfiiich were received for the benefit of the fund. Red crosses decorated sevoral of the cakes, also emphasising tiio cause for which the afternoon was held. A brief speech was made oy the Mayoress, Mrs. Luke, who 'hoped that as many people as possible would give, these teas, and that at least one a month would be held. The Military Hospital Guild, which with the Mayoress had inaugurated 5 these teas, would supply invitation cards and envelopes to tlio intending hostesses, and the latter would do the rest. .Already there were in prospcet half a dozen or more teas, and all the money which resulted from them would be clear net gain. Mrs. Luke also explained the principle on which the teas were organised, and then touched upon the matter of the travelling kitchens, for which funds were' being invited, and what a great boon they were to the soldiers, especially those who were wounded, and wero waiting to be taken to the hospitals or ambulances. Mrs. Kreeft wore a white muslin and lace frock. Among 1 those who were present were, in addition to the Mayoress : Mrs. Hamerton, Misses Lawson (2), Mrs. Snelson (Palmerston North), Mrs. Pytt-Jackson, Mrs. Perston, Mrs. Liddle, Mrs. Mackenzie, Mrs. Nicholis, Mrs. and Miss Waddell, Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Sievwright, Miss Watson, Miss Monradj Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Cuff. Mrs. Willcocks, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. A. L. Wilson, Mrs. Freyberg, Miss Russell (Napier), Miss EUingham, Miss Strauchan, Mrs. and Miss Moncrieff, Mrs. Wilson (Dunedin), and others. A number of girl friends assisted with the tea. The winner of the book competition .was Captain Ivell.