THE WOMEN'S BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL RESERVE.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 253, 18 July 1916, Page 10

THE WOMEN'S BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL RESERVE.

ITS PURPOSE AND WORK

Thr W omen’s Branch of the National Reserve has been established in response to requests from all centres to provide for the enrolment of women desirous of supporting the loyal movement of the citizens during th* present war crisis. In ts Memorandum of Constitution, its purposes are stated to be : (a) To compile an accurate register of women prepared to undertake some branch of work whereby they may set free for active service the men at present employed. lb) To raise funds, v .thout which no organisation can exist. Branches and local subcommittees have been, or may be, formed, to be administered by an Executive Committee, having its neadquartt, s in W ellington. under the pr esidency of Dr. Platts-Mills. Annual subscriptions are, for honorary members 5s per annum, active members 2s, dating from August 4th, and payable, if preferred, half-yearly. Badges may be obtained at 2s fid each. For registration, as explained by the Hon. G. \\. Russell {see below), no fee is a-ked. Card* for registration, and any information, can be obtained from the National Reserve Office, 157. Featherston Street, Wellington. WOMKN’S meeting addrf.sskd BY MOV <;. W. RUSSELL. On Wednesday afitrnoon, May jist, a women’s meeting was held in the Newtown Public Library under the auspic es of the Women’s Nation il Reserve. The purpose of the meeting was to give the Hon. G. \Y. Russell an opportunity to explain the Government scheme for the registration of women. He began by briefly summing up the* present posiion, the Kmpire engaged in a colossal war, not of Britain’s seeking, for it found her unprepared a war engaged in not for lust of territory, but to protect the liberties of the Belgians. We in New Zealand "ere as deeply interested in it as if we were in London, perhaps more so, for bad not the German Navy been compelled by our navy to take refuge in Kiel, the first land to be attacked would have been our own islands, so bountifully blessed with supplies of coal for shipping, fro-

zen mutton for feeding soldiers, gold .end silver, and everything desirable for an Empire like (iermauy, and the sufferings of the Belgian women would have been ours. Had any one predicted two years ago tbit by this time 50,0cx» soldiers would have been sent from New Zealand and anot’ er 10,000 training to go, he would have been judged a lunatic ; hut it it were necessary tor New Zealand to send another bo.ono, we were going to do it. That very afternoon the Military Service Bill was being discussed, which, without superseding the voluntary system, was intended to lie behind it, so that in districts where it was necessary, names might he* drawn by lot for service at the Front. Th"* power of compulsion would not come in, he could assure the m, until it \as absolutely necessary. Some were quite* prepared to see their neighbour- and comrades go and fight, but would not go themselves. Ih* could tell of one part, occupied by weilthy sheepowners, where were whole families of grown-up sons, not one of whom had gone to the I ront, and to meet > jc h c ases a special clause had been put in, enabling Ministers to conscript all such shirkers, without any ballot, for the Government was prepared to do its duty to the country. As the- manhood was being drained, it was necessary t<> organise a plan for using the womanhood. He was grateful for the* magnificent work that the women had already done in the war, and for rhe gifts they had already sent away for the soldiers in connection with the Red Cro-s and other organisations- gifts to the* value of not less than ,£150,000. In the present Bill, no member of Parliament was exempted, nor Government employees. But it was evident that some men must remain ; some departments, the Railways, for example, must employ some* men ; the* work of production must he* carried on, hut the Government were going to try and carry on without ihe single* men, and proposed that married men should not be called on till the* single men were exhausted, with one rxeeption, namely, men married since the war began. These weie not to escape their responsibilities to the women of the country by sheltering behind their wives.

How, then, can the* womanhood of the country be more fully organised? The Women’s Branch of the National Reserve had been entrusted with this

business, and he was there* that afternoon to help them. By the original scheme, it was proposed to enrol women for the following classes oi work: Professional, farming, general (tram conductors, etc .), shop work, domestic, and clerical; but the lastnamed was the first to be taken up; others might follow later. In all Government departments a census was to be taken of men serving as clerks who were* fit for service at the Front, and women would he put in their places. Similarly with banking institutions, shipping offices, wholesale warehouses, etc., women would do most of the* work a- well as men. Many women had been through the* technical and high school, some through the universities; he appealed to ail such who h id any time to give 10 enrol at once. They would h ive to subm.t to some simple test, on parsing which they would be employ ed for clerical work. I’liose who had not had suc h educational advantages, should hand in their names, and for them c lasses would he opened, in afternoon, morning, and evening, at which they could qualify. The Minister for Education would be asked to apply to the school teachers to assist with these classes, as their contribution to the country, and also to appoint one of the Inspectors to examine candidates and grant certificates of protie ienev for general c lerical work, >y pistes, and shorthand writers. When the women were trained ready, the National Reserve would advertise and offer them for service. Such was tin* general outline of the scheme. As to paynrr*nt for services thus rendered, he did not intend to ask the women to provide < heap labour. If a woman did the work of a man, she should receive the same wage. The* end of the war was not yet in sight, hut as Britishers. w<> could have no doubt as to the end, for wherever the flag of Britain h id gone, there nad been progress, and the* peoples had been uplifted. One had but to look at India, Egypt, own own New Zealand, to recognise this. The principles for which we were fighting, for which so much had been sacrificed, would be victorious; and the women of New Zealand would be* able to fe el that they had done their part. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Minister for his clear and interesting address.