WOMEN'S WAR WORK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2869, 6 September 1916, Page 3

WOMEN'S WAR WORK

THE NATIONAL RESERVE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING Tho annual moeting ofHho Women's Branch of _ the National Reserve was hold last night in tho Concert Chamber af the Town Hall. Her Excellency tho Oountoss of Liverpool was present, and there wore somo 300 members in attendance. An apology was received from tho' Mayoress (Mrs. Luke), who was unable to bo present as slio was leaving that day for " the Wairarapa. Colonel Porter, Officer Commandiii!: tho National Reservo, presided.

A Year of Work. ' Dr. Platts-Mills, president 1 ' of tho Women's BraJich of tho Reserve, 'submitted tho first annual report. She pointed out in preliminary explanation that tho first object of tho Reserve ivas to provide women to take the places of men going on active service. This was still the main object of tho Reserve. But it had been found Quito impossible to adhere to this activity alone. Such insistent calls were made on tho Reservo to do other work that the Reserve. could now be . described only as a band of loyal _women ready to do everything that their lmnds could find to do to assist tho country in these times. Much very valuable work had been done by voluntary workers in tho Base Records Office, work which had won the warmest appreciation from tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) and the Director of Base Records (Major Norton Francis). Another branch, of the Reserve's work was the registration of women volunteers who would offer themselves to tako the

place of men' in employment,.' The demand arose first for clerical workers in / Wellington, and there was a demand now for skilled women clerks. She was glad to say that 850 women had volunteered, and 450 had submitted themselves for preliminary examination. For these examinations tho Reserve "had been fortunate in ■ securing the assistance of Miss Phoebe Myers, Miss Maclean, and Miss Hetlierington, ladies who were at the top of the'tree in the teaching profession. Women had been placed in banks, in tho Government service, and in private employ, and ex. ' cellent reports had been received as to ' die work done by them. In the industrial field there had as yet been little demand for women workers: Some were being trained by th'o Gas. Company to do the, mechanical work required in private houses, and some had done good work in connection with the apple industry in Nelson. - Dr. Platts-Mills referred also to tho other branches of work, which was not Reserve work at ail, undertaken by members of the Reserve. Two questions were sometimes asked: Whether women would get the same wages as men, Mid whether. a

woman would hand over the position , she, took to the man whom she replaced whe/v ho returned from the war. It would bo impossible to lay dtjwn any bard and rule. The Reserve could not take any control over in. dividuals v in these . matters. All the' executive could do was to impress -upon members that they ■ had joined the' Reserve from, patriotio motives. It might'not under , all circumstances be proper to insist on a woman relinquishing her position in favour of the man returning from the war. The employer might not consent. Further, it might not be reasonable to insist that women, not fully trained, and not of such 'physique as men, should get always the same, salary as Nmen. She moved the adoption of the 'report. Mrs. Tripp seconded the r motion,

which was carried unanimously by acclamation. Address by the Hon. C. W. Russell. The Hon.G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, being invited to address the meeting, said he esteemed it a very high honour to address tho Women's Roscrvo in tho homo of the Resorve—tho /City of Wellington— where it was born and cradled. A very energetic hranoh existed, in Christchurch. In Dunedin, also, good worl; was being done, although there the enthusiasm was not quite so marked. Shortly lie would go to Auckland to address the Reserve there, and ho would tell them of what had been dono by the Reservo in Wellington, where a model had been set for all tho women of Now Zealand. On. behalf of tho Government, ho wished to express thanks to the women of tho Reserve for tho vor.v generous work they had don'o to assist tho country in tho present war. He spoke of the invaluable generous service rendered by Her Excellency tho Countess of Liverpool in connection with tho Lady Liverpool Fund, which was for the benefit of soldiers in the trenches. The country owed a debt of gratitude also to His Excellency tho Governor, who had given a lead/in* Red Cross work. Both had nobly led in tho patriotio work of Now Zealand, and for all timo the peoplo of New Zealand would remomber them with feelings of deepest gratitude for tljo work "with which they had been 'associated. (Applause.) This work .was still going on, and he .ventured the opinion that if a complete account could be given of tho patriotic work of. this country it would furnish a proud 'record for _ a -copulation of a little more than a million people.

The Women of tho Empire. Mr. Russell went on to speak' of the work done in England since the outbreak of war, of the great service they had rendered in the production of supplies and munitions for the Army of the Empire, which had swelled from the "contemptible little army" of 150,000 men to an army of millions. This had involved great' effort arid great sacrifice. The war had incidentally opened up a widor sphere of occupation to women. In tho public service of Britain all minor posts were now held by women, and it was even claimed that they had been such'a . success that it was being said that women would yet he allowed to enter the higher positions in the service. (Applause.) In Britain, ho believed that tlie man draper had almost entirely disappeared. "And," he said, "I think it is about time the National Govern-ment-brought down a War Regulation Bill to say that after October 1 no able-bodied man shall be allowed to stand behind' a draper's counter to serve out a roll of ribbon or a packet of pins." (Applause.) Mr. Russell referred to the registration of women for employment, and the training of them to take the'places of men going on service, and expressed .the highest appreciation of this activity of the Reserve. In this tho Reserve had fully Justified itself. He was proud 'to be in'-a country of which the women had dono such noble work. Ho hoped, ever, that the organisation would never allow itself to bo used: to provide cheap labour for grasping employers. (Applause.) : After the War. ■ ' After the war there would be not ,only our own soldiers to he providedfor, but probably also for large numbers of British soldiers who would emigrate to theso countries. He held that when soldiers came back they should all get their jobs back, and that those women who had'replaced them should make, way for them on, their return from the war.. (Applause.) He expressed tho opinion that tho lands of

this country should bo thrown open to tllo peoplo so that theso_ soldiers on their roturn could got ,j clianco to go on tho land and make homes for tliemBelvos. Ho did not suggest that they should all get sheep stations, but they might get small holdings', and this without any great derangement of tho country's iiiiauccs. lie believed also that this. State would have to provide assistance to motherhood, and to help people who reared families.

Votes of "hanks. Mrs. Uoskiug moved a vote of thanks to Her Excellency tho Countess of Liverpool for her presenco at tho meeting, assuring her that tho executive and members the in-, teres! she took in their work. The motion was carricd by acclamation. .Her Excellency, in acknowledging tho vote, said: "It has been a great plcaure to mo to como hare to-night to be present at tho first annual meeting of tho Women's' National Reserve. I tako the keenest interest, in tho movement ,miJ I am proud to he associated with it. I should like to congratulate all concerned upon tho amount of success achieved, and to offer best wish.es for the future." ' Votes of thanks were accorded also to the Hon. G. W. Russell, tho executite officers of the Reserve, the Press; and the chairman. During the evening songs were sung by Madam Anderson, and Mr. Hamilton Hodges. In order that the children attending tho schools should have opportunities of undertaking organised patriotic sewing, the board this year conferred with tlie Teachers' ■ Institute and approved a needlework programme for *4i'e primary schools, to include tho making of soldiers' comforts, hospital and infants' requirements, and children's clothes. An exhibition of samples of the work that has thus been accomplished by tho children will be held at the Jioard's office, Mercer Street, this afternoon, and on Thursday and Friday afternoons of this week, between 2 and 5 o'clock. The championship of the Miramar Ladies' Golf Club was concluded last week, Miss Maude Wheeler defeating Miss Gamhrill. Miss Mantell won the junior championship by defeating Mrs. WatMns.

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