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Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1920, Page 4

, WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE. One of the most useful .and successful organisations called into being by the necessities of tlie war is the Women's National Reserve, which has honored New Plymouth by choosing the town for its animal conference, which opens today. During the war no patriotic organisation had a finer record than, the. Reserve, which most successfully "harnessed" the latent feminine' forces, of the Dominion to really vital and neees'sary work. Inspired-by its'capable'arid'enthusiastic head, Mrs. Florence Porter, the Reserve achieved success - upon ; -success, and no history of the war effort of New Zealand can be complete that does not do the fullest justice to the splendid work of its women, banded together as the Woman's National Reserve,- All the Taranaki soldiers realise the great debt they are under i,« ' ,IP various local branches, which rp , -.nremitting in their care of them at' "-very turn. The Reserve indeed "mothered" them from the time of their enlistment to their return —though some, poor lads, will never return—and appreciation of their devoted attention and loving kindness is too deep to be expressed or measured by the spoken or written word. It is heartfelt, and that is sufficient. The women of + ,hiß young nation feel that their worl* has not finished with the conclusion of peace. They think they can still be of service to the Dominion in the work of reconstruction. It is their desire to be in the forefront of the helpers. It is a grand and laudable feeling, and one which sHuld, and will, receive the c.-dial encouragement and support of all sections of a grateful community. Scope for further activities is practically unlimited, and this help must prove invaluable. The piibljc would regard it as little short of a catastrophe if such a useful organisation should by any chance disband at this stage. To do well in whatever work is undertaken will alone satisfy the Reserve's views of duty, and we can confidently assert that in the success of their deliberations at the Conference and in the execution of the many activities arising therefrom, they will have the best wishes of the -people of'this town and province, who felicitate the Reserve on its past efforts and look forward to the beneficial results of the Reserve's future operations. The creation of a new world in which, to quote the inspiring words of ■ the Prince of Wales, "everyone shall have a sporting chance," can only result from hard and honest work. In this great s.riieme of reconstruction the best of wishes alone servo no useful purpose, but the Women's National Reserve is prepared to support the expression of goodwill with practical work in matters coming under its sphere of activities, and the Reserve, in turn, will be backed by the full support of public approbation.