COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 2

COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL CONFERENCE

OFFICIAL REPORT. Tho following is tho official report of the conference, over which Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool presided, in the Town. Hull, Wellington, on March 1, at which the Countess of Liverpool Fund, the Auckland Women's Patriotic League, tho Otago Women's Patriotic Association, and other kindred funds were represented. The following delegates were present:— Auckland: -Mrs. Gunson, Mayoress, Miss Spedding (honorary secretary Women's Patriotic League), Miss Veale, Mrs. Ganc (Cambridge). Wellington: Mrs. J. P. Luke, Mayoress, Mrs. Alec. Crawlord, lion, sec., Mrs. J. Findlay, lion, treasurer, Mrs. Tripp, Mrs. Townsend, Mrs. Simpson (Hunterville), Mrs. J. Studholme.(Taihape), Mrs. Crump (Onslow), Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Briee (Wadestown), Mrs. ■W. Martin (Martinboroughj, Mrs. Kirk (Gisbome), Mrs. A. Atkinson (Hawera), Mesdames Kenderdino and M'Kone (Taumarumii), Mesdames Corndiue and Caselberg and Miss M'Keiizio (Masterton), Miss Risk (Raetihi), the Lady Muriel Deck (Waipawa), Mrs. Richter (Levin), Mrs. Pnrdv (Paliiatua), Mrs. Dymock (Stratford), the Countess of Glasgow (Waipukurau), Mrs. Bill and Mrs. Milno (Marton), Mrs.' Hornsby and Mrs. Murray (Carterton), Mrs. M'Gaw, Miss Stu-art-Forbes '(Lower Hutt),'_ Miss R. Hicks (Okaiawa), Mrs. W. Nathan (Waverley), Mrs. Rigg (Patca), Mesdames MacKay, Williams, and Suistcd (Wanganui), Mesdames W. Barton, G. Donald, Miss Card (Featherstoii), Mesdames Hart, Fitzherbert, Miss Luckie (Hastings), Sirs. Burgess (New Plymouth), Mrs. Feltham (Ohakune), Mrs. Nash (Palmerston North), Mrs. Luko (North Tarauaki). Canterbury: (Christchurch) Mrs. Holland, Mayoress, Mrs. Neville, Mrs. Chilton, Mrs 1 . Way, Mrs. Newman ; (Spreydon), Mrs. Winson., Mayoress, Miss Woodfield; (Nelson) Mrs. Lock, Mrs. A. Crawford; (Blenheim) Mrs. Corry, Mayoress, Mrs. Lucas, Mrs. Duncan; (Westport), Mrs. Leaver, Mayoress; (Springfield) Miss Popple; (Geraldinc), Mrs. Hislop, Mayoress; (Waiinate) Mrs. Norton Francis; (Leeston) Mrs. Grigg; (Timaru), Mrs. Hacon. Otago: (Dunedin) Miss Downie Stewart. Maori Soldiers: Mrs. Pomare. The resolutions passed at the conferonce have been supplied to the Press by Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, and are as follow: — Mrs. Holland (Christchurch} proposed, Miss Luckie seconded, that if practicable an arrangement should be made for a Dominion gift of comforts, consisting of a uniform parcel for general distribution for the men at the front. This was carried unanimously, after considerable discussion. A number of reports from various leagues were received on this subject, including those from Mrs. Coradine (Masterton), Miss Luckie and Mrs. Fiti-hei-bert (Hastings), and Mrs. Gorry, Mrs. Lucas, and Mrs. Duncan (Blenheim). 1 It was proposed by Miss Spedding ■ (Auckland), seconded by Mrs. W. Nathan, that a committee of the Mayoresses and secretaries of tho four centres, , with Her Excellency as president, ; should be formed, to decidc on the con- ■; tents of the Dominion parcel—Carried. I Proposed by Mrs. Look, seconded by Miss Luckie, that North and South Island should do this work alternately, month about. Miss Spedding moved, Mrs. Hornsby seconded as an amend- ; mcnt, that the four centres should each ' provide a quarter monthly.—The amend- ! ment was carried. | Mrs. Luke (Wellington) reported liav- : injj received a letter from Mr. Bernard ! Tripp, of 'Timaru, in which he offers to go to Egypt at his own expense to supervise the distribution of Dominion gifts to New Zealand troops. The Countess of Glasgow (Waipukurau) proposed, and Mrs. Way (Christchurch) seconded, that Mr. Bernard Tripp be assured that this committee highly appreciate his generous offer.—The motion was carried. Mrs. J. P. Luke (Wellington) proposed, Miss Spedding (Auckland) seconded, that each centre should assist in money or kind in supplying trailsports with : fruit, cake, books t games, gramaphoncs, cte., and the Wellington Committee should control, the supplies.—The motion was carried,. i Mrs. Holland (Christchurch) proposed, Mrs. Crawford (Nelson) seconded, that all appeals for gifts and all gift parcels go through the four centres. Sirs. Gunson (Auckland), speaking in support of tho motion, pointed out the fact that complete affiliation with the country districts would be a source of immense .strength to each centre. —Carried unanimously. Mrs. ■ Holland brought before the notice of the conference the fact that outgoing parcels to country districts of material, etc., were charged railago, although incoming parcels were carried free, and inquired if: any rebate was possible. Miss Downie Stewart (Dunedin) confirmed Mrs. Holland's statement, and said that official information had been obtained to the eiject that the chargo was inevitable. Miss Spedding (Auckland) suggested that in order to increase interest and supply of knitted comforts that a Dominion contest should be held according to the terms of circular distributed After considerable discussion it was decided that it should [ie left to tho will of each centre, as a Dominion contest at present was deemed unsuitable. Mrs. Luko (Wellington) called the at tention of the. conference to the fact that wool could be purchased by contract, thereby reducing the price to the patriotic worker. A number of reports were received from various leagues as to the methods and contents of parcels distributed as parting gifts. A somewhat lengthy discussion followed as to the advisability of continuing this form of gift, hut it was decided to make 110 rule, asthe smaller leagues pointed out that it had. been so much approved,that it would bo difficult to abandon it. During the afternoon it was announced that the parcel to ho sent as a Dominion gift should be of the value of 2s. 6d., containing any of tho following articles: —Sardines. salmon, anchovy, extract of meat, bovril, curry powder, Iveating's, glaxo, soup tablets, cocoa,, cornflour, soap, writing patior, and sanitary paper. A question was asked re variation of housewives, and Mrs. Luke pointed out that this was impossible, as the stock pattern has been contracted for. A vote of thanks to Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool for presiding at the conferonco was proposed by Mrs. Massey, seconded by' Lady Ward, and carried with acclamation.