WOMEN’S NATIONAL RESERVE HOLDS ANNUAL REUNION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 4

WOMEN’S NATIONAL RESERVE HOLDS ANNUAL REUNION

LADY BLEDISLOE ATTENDS At the Y.W.C.A. Hall yesterday afternoon the Women’s National Res6rve held the annua! reunion of widows, wives and mothers of soldiers and sailors who took part in the war. Her Excellency Lady Bledisloe, accompanied by Mrs. A. T. Bathurst, attended, and was received by the president, Mrs. F. Fitchett, and Mrs. A. D. Campbell, the Mayoress. On the platform also were Mrs. John Cook, Dr. Margaret Knight and Mrs. Fancourt. Her Excellency, on arrival, was presented with a bouquet of cyclamen and maidenhair fern, while the mother of an ex-soldier also presented Lady Bledisloe and Mrs. Fitchett with bouquets of golden chrysanthemums. Mrs. Campbell was also presented with a posy of violets. In a short speech, her Excellency said that in all philanthropic work there was a danger of overlapping, but at the same time there was a greater danger of leaving gaps unfilled. “Now the war is past you have made this labour of love and mercy specially yours, and it is a work really worth doing. Just as your men at the war helped to save the Empire, so you are helping to keep their memory green and bring happiness to many broken lives.” In welcoming those present, Mrs. Fitchett referred to the women's rest room in Karangahape Road, which was built by the Auckland City Council and furnished by the ‘Women’s National Reserve. It had proved of grea t benefit, 74,000 women having used it in the past year. Mrs. John Cook also spoke and as a representative of the League of Nations briefly outlined its aims and objects and urged the women of Auckland to take a more active interest in it. Dr. Margaret Knight gave a bright address on the mother and her influence in the home. She emphasised the importance of friendship between the mother and her children. The criticism which Miss 1930 was receiving was quite wrong; she was not flighty and fast but had developed a fine faith, courage and heroism, a desire for work and a love of freedom,, which were fine characteristics. During the afternoon a bright programme of music was arranged. Musical selections were given by Mrs. Eve .Miller (piano). Miss Daphne Higham and Mr. Paul Bretnall (violin), and Mr. Max Bretnell (violin-cello); Mrs. Cronin, Miss K. Christie and Miss S. Stacpoole, songs; violin solo, Miss Daphne Higham, and a humorous sketch by Miss Joan Varley Hudson and Miss Althea Parker. Afternoon tea was served by the women's committee, after which her Excellency met and conversed with many of those present.