WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1919, Page 6

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE

ANNUAL MEETING OF NEW ' PLYMOUTH BRANCH, The annual meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Women's National Reserve was held in the Bungalow, Kawaroa Park, yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance- Mrs. C. H. Burgess opened the proceedings and introduced the Mayoress (Mi;s. Jas. Clarke), to the chair of tho meeting. She appealed for loyal support on the part of the women, as it was inevitable that such a positon as that of Mayoress had to be accepted without any previous training for it. Mrs. Burgess thanked the ladies for the support accorded her during her term of office, and hoped that whatever organisations were carried ou, whether the Vicvorla League or the National Reserve, the women would combine and stand behind tho Mayoress. Although the .same work would not be required as had been done during the past few years there was still work in the town to be done by the women. Mrs. Clarke was very warmly applauded upon taking the chair. She thanked Mrs. Burgess for the kind words of welcome, and said that while she could not hope to do half as well as Mrs. Burgess, she would do her best so far as her ability went. The report, which covered the period from April last, and statement of accounts, revealed a credit balance of £1 10s 4d. The new members iu»ae during the period just about balanced the the loss through resignations, etc. *he mothers' teas, which had been held regularly, were very successful functions, and thanks were expressed to those who bad provided the refreshments for those occasions as well as others for contributing entertaining items. During the winter a series of lectures on elementary nursing was given by Mrs. Walker in the old hospital building. They were well attended and milch appreciated and the committee recorded its thanks to Mrs. Walker for her services, and also to the matron of the hospital for placing the room and the equipment at the disposal of the Reserve. ' As the i-esult of a Daffodil Tea held in Whiteley Hall in August, the sum of £lO was raised and donated to the Soldiers' Hostel. Appreciation was expressed of the work of the junior branch of the Reserve (the pupils of the New Plymouth Girls' High School), who regularly placed flowers on the graves of soldiers at Tc Henui Cemetery every Saturday morning, and also supplied parcels of sweets to soldiers in the hospital once A month. Thanks was also expressed to the trustees of Whiteley Church and the Kawaroa Park Committee for the use of their buildings in connection with the various functions held by the Reserve during the year, and to Mr. Hoffmann for the use of piano for the. meetings. The balance-sheet was presented by the treasurer (Miss Rundle.) Particular reference was made to three items on the expenditure side of the bal-ance-sheet, including a contribution of £5 to the Headquarters of the. Reserve. £1 to the Residential Nursery, at Wellington, arid £1 Is towards a testimonial. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mrs. Burgess >aid the chief work had been the periodical gathering together of the soldiers' mothers .'ind wives, the quarterly teas having been very successful. The committee ivas grateful for the assistance given by many helpers at these functions, both in regard to providing refreshments and nlso music, etc., and to, the Whiteley trustees and the Kawaroa Park Committee for the free use of their buildings. . She thought that as the patriotic work was now being left behind the Reserve would have to make up its mind to pay its way as it went along, and not! expect to get these things for nothing in the future. Mrs. Burgess expressed much appreciation of the work of thf* junior branch in placing flowers on the graves of the soldiers at Te Henui cemetery, and in supplying sweets to the soldiers in hospital. This work (vas mnch appreciated by the relatives of the men in a quiet way. A plot had lioen secured in the cemetery specially for the burial of soldiers, in close proximity td- one of the monuments to the old soldiers, which she thought most appropriate, and would be much more appreciated dad mean more to New Plymouth in years to come. Reference was made to the annual dominion conference of the Reserve, which is to be held at N T ow Plymouth in February, when delegates would be present from all over N T ew Zealand. She hoped every effort would be made to make the stay of the visitors plasant. They would be in town from the Monday until the Saturday following, and an official reception and entertainment would be accorded to the delegates on the Tuesday. Tile report and balance-sheet were then adopted without discussion. Mrs. Burgess explained that the annual meeting was being held at the present time at the request of the Inst conference in order to bring all the branches into conformity in that matter. The. local branch Held 'its last annual meeting in April, but the financial year did not close until the end of March next. She suggested, in view of that, and the forthcoming conference, that the old committee and officers should he reelected. This was agreed to, the names doing as follow: President, Mrs. C. HBurgess; committee, Mesdames A. Alexander. T. C. List, Ebcrlct, A. C. H. Collins, Sumner, ,T. Clarke, C. T. Mills( secretary), and Miss Rundle (treasurer). A vote, of thanks was moved on behalf of the soldiers' mothers, to the Reserve for entertaining them to toas, and a vote f>f thanks to the committee and officers lor their work was carried with acclamation, as was also a vote to the Mayoress for presiding.