WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1920, Page 7

WOMEN'S NATIONAL RESERVE.

DOMINION CONFERENCE OFFICIAL WELCOME BY THE MAYOR OPENING SESSION. The official opening of the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Women's Nationat Reserve took place at the New Plymouth Borough -Council Chambers yesterday morning. . The following dolegates ; .w;ef^'prese'i}t: Wellington, :Mesdames,,, Corliss! (Dominion President), Porter'''" (Domiinion ' L 'Orga?iiser), Boden (Dominion. Treasurer), Hope (Dominion Secre|aJ7)',.;Al!e^lie^'(siotl^ers , Help DiviVioiv),;M)SS (Honorary Division), Mrs. Bethune;. Gisborne, Mes.domes Gqffe-.anfL Grey; ,-Hastings, Mrs. Goring.;; Danneyiikc,,,.Mrs..;.Branting; Te Awamu.t.u,.-Mrs. faylflr; Auckland, Mrs. McLean; Inglewood, Mrs.,J, Sutherland; .Wa.nganttit.Mrß,>:.e. -Sfoekay; Stratford, Mesdameiu McMillan;: and; i. Cuthbert; 'Ha^ra*'JVlesiames 'Loved! <iand French; Feilding, Mrs. Neal; New Plymouth. Mesdames Clarke; Birrgess and List, and Miss 'Sole.- ; ¥he'rc a number pi apologies for absence. . ..'-(KHE MAYOR'S WELCOME. ! :The Ma~yor : ..of New Plymouth (Mr. Jas. Clarke), who was, introduced by Mrs. Burgess,- then welcomed the conference delegates to the town. In a few warmhearted words he expressed the pleasure and honor felt at having the meeting of the Reserve in New Plymouth, and also the distinction to the local Reserve in having its guiding spirit on the Dominion Council. Mr. Clarke said that while the war work of the Reserve was deeply appreciated, he did not propose to talk about it as the members knew a great deal more of it than he did. He paid a warm tribute to the women for the way in which they had kept in touch with the boys at the front during the war, and the splendid and continuous supplies of comforts which had been sent out there, for which the boys had been deeply grateful. In regard to the future the Mayor said that the biggest problem requiring solution was that of the increasingly high cost of living—or, as he preferred to put it—the cost of high living. This matter, he thought, ,was one in which the influence of women could, and would, play an important part in finding a solution thereto. There would be difficulties, however, which did not arise in connection with war work. In that there was one common object, while in the effort to reduce the cost of living sections of communities were likely to become divided against each other. He referred to the large number of people employed in the production of unnecessary things, and thought an effort should be made to divert labor and capital now expended upon luxuries into channels for the production of necessities. He thought s the Government would be well advised in its efforts to find a remedy for the present high cost or living to call in the counsel and assistance of women like those in the National Reserve. Tho Mayor concluded his remarks with an expression of great pleasure in welcoming the delegates to New Plymouth, and hoped that while they were engaged in doing good work for their country they would find time for social enjoyment and seeing the beauties of the place they were visiting. (Applause).

WOMEN AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. The welcome was acknowledged by the President (Mrs. Corliss) who thanked the Mayor (or his kind words, and for the use of the Council Chamber for their meetings, which tended to give their work an atmosphere of added importance. She thought that already quite a lot of pleasure had been crowded into the short time they had been in New Plymouth, and thanked the local Reserve for what had been done in this direction. Referring to the Mayor's remarks she warmly endorsed the suggestion that women should co-operate with the men in an endeavor to put an end to industries which were unessential. As yet the Reserve had not had the time to go into economic questions. The end of the fighting had seen the country in the throes of the- epidemic- and there had been a wave of trouble surging over the people. Fortunately, the organisation of the Reserve had been able to do a splendid work in that terrible time, because there were thousands- of women all over the country ready .equipped for service. When the women were freer they would certainly bring their forces to bear on economic questions. She expressed the opinion that by co-operation women could do a great deal by boycotting, to check profiteering in many directions. In the future the work of the Reserve would embrace all that concerned the welfare of women and children. That was particularly women's work. "It is our. work," said Mrs. Corliss, "and we are going to do it." (Applause).

LOCAL BRANCH WELCOME. Mrs. Burgess then, on behalf of tho local branch of the Reserve, tendered a warm welcome to the visiting delegates and assured them that already their presence was making itself felt, and would leave a lasting influence which would be a great benefit to the town. (Applause). Mrs. Burgess also conveyed a warm invitation to the delegates to be the guests of the Returned Soldiers' Association at afternoon tea that day. Mrs- Corliss, in accepting the invitation, said it was deeply touching, and a beautiful tribute by the returned soldiers to the work of the Reserve during the war. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. Mrs. Corlis3 then formally welcomed the delegates to the conference. She referred to the diffidence with which the first Dominion • Conference had been summoned, and to the splendid response which had come to the invitations from all over New Zealand. A new constitution had been formulated which would enable the Reserve to continue work in peace as in war times, though the operations would be in somewhat different directions. The epidemic, which followed so closely on the cessation of hostilities, had showed- how much could be done by an organisation, of women, especially in the direction of nursing and looking after children; but this should be the work of trained women. She referred to the war work of women in England, and said that the Suffragettes, being organised, were able immediately to turn the whole strength of their forces into war activities. Being experienced in organising they were quickly able to utilise the »ervice3 of others who offered. It wa*

■the, organised society of women that counted so much in the carrying out of certain work. (Applause) "In fact," she said,."anything can be achieved by. organised womanhood." Mrs. Corliss then proceeded to relate some of the work carried out by the Reserve since the last Dominion Conference. She. made special reference to the Residential Nursery established in Wellington through the endeavors of Mrs. Porter. The sad lack in the coming woman was that the girls could not be got to go into homes where there are children, and something had to be done for mothers and children who so sadly needed assistance. This nursery was designed to take in the young children of sick mothers, and care for them for stated periods, the payments being according to scale arranged and the ability of participants in the advantage to pay. The Reserve must in the meantime endeavor to inculcate in the minds of girls the great dignity attaching to service for others. She herself had great faith in tho force which comes out of a great desire on the part of individuals to help others. There was no better arena of work for training for the larger affairs of life than M home. The "city fathers" did much for municipalities, but she thought the "city mothers" had an equally important, if not greater, part to play. (Laughter and applause). Women should concentrate their efforts in the direction of the preservation of the home. She knew of hundreds of families, even in Wellington, who did not know what "homo" really meant; who lived in tenements and rooms. Out of such conditions happy families could never come. Mrs. Corliss concluded her address' with brief comments on other branches of work undertaken by different sections of the Reserve, paying special attention to the work of the girls who regularly tender! the graves of fallen soldiers and sailors in all parts of New Zealand. In this raapect she congratulated the New Plymouth Junior Branch at the Girls' High School on its organisation and work. (Applause),

BUSINESS SESSION. Burins' the remainder of the morning the conference was engaged discussing what were termed domestic matters, relating to amendments to the Rules and Constitu+'on, in order to make them eomformable to the objects and purposes of the work in its varied aspects. GIRLS' HOSTELS. In the afternoon the first matter discussed was the question of establishment of hostels for girls and women in the different towns of the Dominion. '■•■ .-ie creat difficulty in getting such places built was referred .to. It was thought to get the sympathy and help -.of the Borough Council, but the times under which housing accommodation can be erected by these bodies precludes them from undertaking the building of anything in the nature of hostels. It w,as decided that an- endeavor should be made to get authority for municipalities SO, engage in such work. Appreciative comments were made on the success of the Hawera Hostel, which is how said to be self-supporting, though r tliree times the amount of accommodation could be let if it was available. TOWN PLANNING. A very interesting and informative discussion took place on the subject of town planning. Mrs. Boden, who is a member of tho Wellington Town Planning Committee gave an account of the work done in the Empire City. In this connection the importance of providing rest rooms and conveniences -tor girls and women was stressed, there being * general need for such places all over the Dominion. A very successful and effluent room has been run for the Past two years by the civic authorities n Vianganui, where a committee of adies inspect the place every fortnight to ensure it is properly and efficiently maintained. • '

i u-1 6 ' let!on1 et!on , of tlle authorities and inhabitants of New Plymouth, in keeping the, parks of the foreshore as they are was warmly eulogised. ' Jfiw i |"P c "' tftnce °* the part women eould take ,n the architecture and plannmg of houses in any town planning scheme was also stressed. A resolution was subsequently passed, in winch the Reserve undertook to sup' port anv town planning organisation where such existed, and where no organisation existed, to co-operate with the cnic authorities.

GENERAL. Other matters dealt with during the afternoon included the establishment of the KMidentml Nursery, the Mothers' Help Division, to which the Reserve gave »t> assurance of support, which will probably lead to the establishment of many such institutions in different districts of the Dominion. R.S.A. ENTERTAIN VISITORS. On the conclusion of the business session yestcr. , rnoon the de i egates L f th ? PS** 0f the New Plymouth Returned Soldiers' Association at afternoon tea at the club. The visitors were we corned by Captains MacDiarmid and Hartnell, and after tea Mrs Corliss suitably thanked the soldiers for the compliment paid to members of the conference who, she said, were deeply impressed with the spirit of the act, and who would never lose touch with the men who had borne the heat and burdens of the cruel war, and who were the Reserve's "first love" in war work. the members were then shown over the club rooms by some of the R.S.A. men. The conference resumes its business session at 10 o'clock this morning.