SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 127, 15 February 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mr. Luke at (ho Kelburn Kiosk. Tliu Kelburn Kiosk, in which Mr. Luke, the. National (iaveniment candidate for the Wellington North electorate, addressed a meeting last evening, whs crowded with an audience that numbered many women, who followed t.he course of I lie candidate's address with the keenest interest. Some, pointed questions taring upon women's work in connection with the war wero asked by some of their number, notably one regarding the desirability of the Dominion of New Zealand 1 ailing into line with Canada and tjreal Britain in having women systematically trained for farm and garden work. Jt. has been 'considered hy women that in view of tlm shortage 01 male labour in this cln ss of work, and the eagerness 01 hundreds of women and. girls to relieve this shortage by filling the breach themselves, that ruch a matte!- should be dealt with, especially .dneo State farms for men and boys have already been established in this country. They aro of the opinion that it should cost but little more to train them 011 these farms as well.

Many- of the women in the audience had sons, husbands, and other relatives at the waiyand Mr. Luke's attitude in regard to conscription was keenly endorsed by them, realising as they did the want of equity that allowed the burden to fall upon the willing shoulders, unless there was conscription. They also warmly approved of Mr. Luke's statements that returned soldiers should be given every facility tot settling upon the land if they wished, or given every facility to follow whatever pursuit*in life they were best able to follow. The mooting closed with the audience enthusiastically singing the National Anthem. Among those present wore the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke) and her sister (Mrs. Post). Appreciation of Spinsters' Club. The secretary of the Spinsters' Club has received the following letter from the Quartermaster of the New Zealand Stationary Hospital, to which unit the club send money for comforts, etc.:— 4 beg to acknowledge receipt of the sum of £30, which you have so kindly sent for tho hospital Christmas dinner. This is the fourth occasion since the war started that I have had to thank you all, and although I hope most sincerely for everybody's sake it will be the last,time, I assure you that all the bovs are deeply grateful. 1 will forward details of Christmas festivities later. 111 the meantime, J. will explain how the last donation of £17 10s. has been .spent. Wo changed it into French money, making 480 francs. Each sister in charge of ■ the various wards wns given a low fvmios to buy any special littlo comfort t-Tiat voiy sick patients miglit fancy. We purchased a lot of fresh fruit and chocolates, and 'the rest has gone towards buying little things for Christmas decorations, etc., for the wards. I enclose a letter from the president of the New Zea-. land Soldiers' Club at Boulogne acknowledging 100 francs from you throurdi me, which T thought you would be pleased to subscribe. A large number of New Zealand men. after passing through here, go to the base and evontiinlh* 1" ronvolevent cr.miw, and the obiect of this elub is to make a comfortable little club-bouse for these boys. As thev are not able to up paid until tliev rejoin the division, they will greatly appreciate being able to jicfc a cup of cocoa or beef fcsa- when in town, free of cost." Tho following is the letter enclosed, from Major Bolton, chairman _of the Management Committee of tho Soldiers Club at Boulogne:—"I have to acknowledge and thank you for the donation of 100 francs (£3 13s. 4d.) towards the expenses of our club (from the Spinsters' Club, Wellington). This club has been formed under_ many difficulties, and monetary assistance is one of them. Your assistance, therefore, ia doubly appreciated. The club is now ready for opening, and I hope that it will be a congenial meeting place for our boys, who hitherto had no general meeting room, and who, in consequence, were compelled to either walk life .streets or rendezvous at Esfairiciitos. Booms are provided for light refresbVi':cnt. music, reading, and writing, »cards, etc., and it only requires that the men should go there in order that they may become aware of the advantages the club offers. If, during your travels, you cee a piano lying on the roadside, vou might 'ear-mark it. and I shall send for it, as we are paying a very high rental for the instrument now in use." .

Sister Mav Ohalmer, who has been staying in Christohurch. left for ■Wellington on Tuesday. _ Sister Ohalmer lias aeen much service in England, Franco, and Egypt- nnrl lias also been on duty 011 hospital ships. Mrs. C'otterill and her t daughter iir;pv:nd through Wellington ''-esierday o'.: their way to Napier from Tilllr.ru. Jfrs. Jessie Agnew M'Cartney, whose denth took place last month, arrived in N'ew Zealand in 1848. She was horn at Oovan, Glasgow, in 1812. She set.i |nd in T'orfoheilo in 18-18, and resided there until her death. In 11*73 she married Mr. John M'Oartnev, for many years in eommrud of the I'ortoMlo Rifles, and now Major M'Cartnev. Mrs. M'Onrfney was the elder daughter of the late 'Mr. .Tames Seaton, M.H.R. for Peninsula. She leaves a fftinily of two sons and three daughters, nil married. The. Navy League Ladies' Auxiliary will open their workroom in the. Teclinieal College on Tuesday, when the •work of makim; and providing comforts for t.lie men of ibo Navy will In; resumed.

A Red Gross Mooting, A meeting of the Wellington Women's Red Cross Committee was held ill the .Mercer Street Depot yesterday morniug. There were present: .Mrs. Luke (in the chair), Lady Ward, Mescalines lihmdcll, Vindluy. Ilarltiop, Kirkcr, Myers, Elliott. , I'earce, Hose, Salmoml, Sen ton, Joseph, Duthie, Nathan, Jloorhnnsn. Miss Co-ties, .Miss Davidson, and tlie iion. secretary (Miss Sybil Nathan). Apologies were received from Mrs. W. I'. Masse.v, Mrs. Firth, Mrs. Shirtclitfe, Airs. Morison. and Mrs. Tripp. .Mrs. Luke gave a resume of what was done at the recent 'Red Cross conference held in Christchurch. The secretary reported that during two weeks in December, 2773 garments were dispatched to England, and 0.597 bandages and dressings. On Wednesday of this wee! c 100 khaki bedspreads were packed for dispatch to a hospitn! ship. Mrs. Luke spoke to the .meeting of Ihe big appeal which is to be mado next month by the Y.M.C.A. foi funds to provide New Zealand soldiers with comforts wherever they happened to lie, and pointed out that these comforts owing to food shortage and various other causes were more than ever needed. She strongly advocated that every possible support should be afforded the movement. Mrs. W. Nathan was appointed the committee's delegate to attend the meeting which which was to be held that afternoon in connection with the Y.M.C.A. effort. Tt was decided that a meeting of the Wellington Bed Cross Shop Committee and the Wellington Women's Red Cross organisation should be held early next week to discuss matters in connection with their organisation and work. A letter from the secretary of the New Zealand branch of the Jjntish Red Cross in London was read, thanking the committee for the receipt of £i&00, the result of the "Violet Day" effort of last August-. A Jotter was also read from Major Wylie, Brockenlnirst, thanking the committee for eleven cases of goods which had been received some time ago. Mrs. M. Myers, who had been asked to ascertain if the soldiers in the Victoria Military Hospital were supplied with all they'wantcd, reported that the men' had "expressed themselves as wanting for nothing. A suggestion was made at the meeting that arrangements should be made for _ teaching any of the soldiers in hospital typewriting if they wished to learn. It was resolved to see what could be done in this direction. The ladies' auxiliary of the Navy League thanks Mrs. Medley, Carterton ladies, Picton ladies, Opunake ladies, for gifts.