SHARING THE BURDEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3016, 1 March 1917, Page 3

SHARING THE BURDEN

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE FUNCTION By now the Women's National Reserve is an organisation that is known throughout Now Zealand for tho part it has played! in patriotic work, not only in its main object, that of preparing women and girls to take the places of men so that the lattor may he enabled to go to tho war, but also in doing all it can to lighten the burdens of those who aro to carry on the work of tho country as. well as the work of caring for the sick and wounded oT our soldiers and sailors. The energies of tho active members has been by tho.very nature of things more to the fore in the public cyo, but at the back of it has'been the honorary division, which has done much to keep things going not only by its financial assistance but by the interest and practical assistance that its members have given to the work of the active members. Of late the honorary division of the Women's National Reserve has greatly increased in membership, so much so that it wns found necessary to organise more thoroughly. Mrs. G. W. Rus-j soil, wife of tho Minister of Internal Affairs, was elected president, Mesdn-mos Hall-Thompson, W. Nathan, and Hullen vice-president-j, and Mosdamcß Wardrop-Anderson, TV. Nathan, Hope Lewis, Nicolson, Boden, Corliss, and Miss Sheppard (hon. secretary) tho committee. Having; completed their organisation, members have felt in a position to undertake a work in which their symi pthics havo been keenly enlisted, that of trying to get into touch with_ the mothers of our soldiers and sailors, wherever and however it is possible to do so. Most mothers aro alike to-day in the-fact that nearly everyone has got a son or sons who have answered the great call, and it was believed thnt if they could establish regular gatherings of mothers so much might Tie done to licbton each other's bwdens, if only hv the fact that their anxieties and tVir interests are shared by all alike. Yesterday afternoon was tho first of these gatherings, -which aro to be of a monthly character, and the success which attended this, the initial ono, was an excellent augury for the success of tlie movernent. The Concert Chamber, mi which it was held, was more than romfortauly filled, and judging by the interchange oF talk thnt was taking pMoe tho mothers nf our soldiers and sailors appeared to find common ground where they could meet wtihout constraint.

Mrs. G. W. Russell (president of the honorary division), Dr. Platts-Mills (president of tlio active reserve), and Mrs. Fall-Thompson, representing tho Navy League, welcomed the guests of honour, and later, with tlm committee, tnnk their places upon tbn platform, after tho arrival of the Fon. 6. W. Russell and tbe Hon. J. Hanan, ivho had been asked to do honour to the 'occasion.

In welcoming the assembled guests, Mr. Russell said that as Minister of Internal Affairs, lie had been very closely associated with tlio Women's National I<eserve ; for whose work lie had such an admiration, and lie had been very pleased to h~o present upon such an oe casionas this. He thought that such gathering* were a most excellent idea and_ greatly to he encouraged. ThTs occasion was to lie ono of a series, and by means of thorn those women who had loved ones away iighiing would come into contact with those who desired to show their sympathy with them in their anxieties. If it had not been for the support of the women of New Zealand he did not know how the Government could have carried out the work that lay before them of sending away nearly 80,000 men to tho war. Ho was very glad that tho mothers of Bailors wore included in this function. We were a maritime people by virtue of our position, and in the time to come he hoped wo would occupy the position of the Britain of the South. At tho present time wo were well represented in that Navy that held tho German Fleet bottled up like a rat in a trap at Kiel. Wo had every reason to look forward to tho end of the war with every hope of an honourable conclusion Mr. Russell further told his hearers that these gatherings were to be held tho last AVednesday in every month, and if any of the mothers had any special trouble or anxiety in connection with their sons he advised them to tell them to any of the Reserve members, and thev would forward tho facts on to him. He would be very glad indeed to do whatever ho''could for them. Apologies were read by Mr. Russell from the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen), who ; had sent a very sympathetic letter, tho Ron. A. L. Herdman, the Hon. Arthur Myers, and Hon W. H. Herries.

A brief vote of thanks to Mr. Russell and to Mr. Hanan for their presence was moved by Dr. Platts-Mills and carried. A proposal was also brought forward by_ the speaker that all mothers of soldiers and Bailors should wear a_ badge, not as a reward or as ostentation, but as a token that would at once create a bond of sympathy between- all mothers who had sons tit the front, either on land or sea.

After the speeches were delivered afternoon tea, in {Tie charge of Mrs. Stewart and a number of girl helpers, was handed around, and songs and pianoforte solos were contributed by Miss Valerie Corliss and Miss Dall. The decoration of the chamber was one of the features of the gathering! Tin's had been carried out under Mr. Dodderill's supervision. The stage decorations were the work of Mrs. Bell, of Kelburn, the arrangement of asters, lilies, and palms heme: charming. Much of the success of tho afternoon was due to Mrs. Porter, the eeneral organising secretary of the Women's National Reserve, who was accompanied by Colonel Porter.