WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 162, 3 April 1919, Page 3

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

GATHERING AT KAWAROA PARK.

' Kaivaroa Park, in the vicinity of the Bungalow, New Plymouth, presented au animated scene on Saturday afternoon, when tho New Plymouth branch of ,the Women's National Reserve held a gathering for the mothers, wives, and children of soldiers. The. soldier patients at the hospital were also there for a short time, being brought down in motor-cars, and provided with afternoon tea. . A striking Christmas-tree stood at the flagdecked -band rotunda, and the children were marched up to it and eacli given a present. Tea was provided for them in a marquee', and for the wives and mothers it was stt'in the bungalow. The members of llio reserve, headed by Mrs. Burgess ..(president) and Miss Rundlo (secretary), hail made very complete arrangements and had provided a dainty tea." The juvenile branch, consisting of girls from the High School, acted _ as waitresses. An enjoyable short musical programme was provided. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., made a brief speech, congratulating the Women's National lieserve on the good work done and the position it occupied. Regarding tho changes taking place in social conditions, Mr. Smith said it was recognised that women had taken a great part in the war and lhat they were going to take a greater part in the affairs of the country. Ho expressed a hope that when his present seat was wrested from him it would bo wrested by a member of the Women's National Reserve. The mothers were presented with peace greeting cards, very dainty in design and colour. They were stamped with the badge of mothers of soldiers and sailors, and bore the words, "Peace greetings from the Women's Nntionol Reserve, New Plymouth Branch, 1919." The Christmastree gathering was to have taken place before Christmas, but the epidemic caused the postponement.