WOMEN'S DIVISION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 126, 9 March 1935, Page 2

WOMEN'S DIVISION

THE CONFERENCE BUSINESS. FURTHER REMITS CONSIDERED. MANY IMPORTANT MATTERS. The first int«r-provincial conference of the Women's Division of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to be held in Canterbury was concluded in Ashburton after the "Guardian" went to press yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance representative of North, Mid and South Canterbury executives. The provincial presidents and secretaries present were: Mrs H. A. Nutt and Miss Francis L. Cooper (North Canterbury), Mrs B. E. Evans and Miss V. Kingston (South Canterbury), Mrs F. Johnson and Mrs C. Rickard (Mid-Canterbury). Mrs Colin Mcintosh (a Dominion vice-president) also attended. Mrs F„ Johnson presided. Mrs C. Rickard was appointed conference secretary, and Mrs Rickard and Misses Cooper and Kingston were made responsible for taking reports for their respective provincial executives. I

A great many matters of mutual in-. terest to country women were discussed. Most of the remits were passed, and recommended to be sent forward to the Dominion conference of the Women's Division to be held in July* The inter-provincial conference was considered to be of great value in cementing Jthe three provincial districts in Canterbury, and discussions of many problems—some common to all districts—others peculiar perhaps to one district only—were productive of many helpful suggestions. Remits considered were as follow: Appointment of Teachers. Mid-Canterbury (Seafield): "That in the interests of children attending country schools the appointment of teachers be of a more permanent nature." After discussion the following recommendation to be sent to the Education Board was carried: "That wo are deeply concerned about the constant removal of teachers in small country schools, and would suggest that even if the grade does fall the former teacher should be retained for a reasonable period, say of- two years." South Canterbury: "That delegates travelling to conference be given a concession on second-class fares, as. well as on first-class fares." Carried. North Canterbury: "That a limited number of housekeepers should receive an annual salary of at least £SO, payable monthly, and that a bonus at the rate of 25s a week be paid for each week in excess of 40 that the housekeeper works." The motion was carried. It was suggested that one or two of the division's best housekeepers should be asked for their opinions.

South Canterbury: "That as there appears to be some doubt regarding whether or not the name of the maker and weight should appear on butter wrappers, this 'conference would like to draw attention to the fact that} it is .compulsory that the name and the weight should appear on the wrapper." The motion was carried. Mid-Canterbury (Westerfield): "That doctors' fees to country patients should be the same as to town patients, phis travelling expenses only." Carried. The secretary was asked to write to the British Medical Association, so that information would be available for the July conference. v The Small Bird Problem.

Another remit from Mid-Canterbury was withdrawn in favour of the following: "That this meeting requests the Department, of Agriculture to investigate the small bird problem and report whether small birds are more destructive to crops than benefieient in the destruction of seed weeds and insect pests." It" was stated that the department had not conducted investigations regarding the sparrow in the last 12 years Mid-Canterbury (Westerfield) . '"That the Education Board be approached concerning assistance to chiiciren attending secondary schools where there is no train running. Children attending primary school still receive travelling expenses and that this inconsistency be pointed out to the department." Carried. "That the Education Board be approached concerning assistance to children cycling and riding to school in accordance with other" vehicles." Carried. Mid-Canterbury (Mifcham-Rokeby '. . —"That a standard length of two and three-quarter yards (each) be made for ready hemmed sheets.'' Carried: It was decided on the motion of Mrs Dillon, seconded by Mrs Nutt, that a telegram bo sent to Lord Nuffield thanking him for his gift 'to the crippled children of New Zealand. Mrs Nutt moved: "That as the Women's Division of, the New Zealand Farmers' Union was much interested in cripple cases, it should be suggested that the Dominion president of the Division should be a member of the trust formed to administer the fund." Miss Cooper was asked to approach the president of the Christchurch branch of the Rotary Club to find out if this suggestion was practicable. Miss Cargill (South Canterbury) gave an interesting talk on the market supervised by the Division in Timaru. She explained that the Division now had weekly markets in charge of a market committee, the work being done by voluntary helpers with two exceptions. The volume of trade that passed through the market was surprising, she said. The market had been of genuine help to many. Miss Cargill was heartily thanked for her interesting talk and congratulated on what she and other members of her committee were doing. Mrs Nutt spoke of the country girls' educational course, or what had been responsible for the inauguration of the course, and particulars of the programme, the number of girls from each branch who had attended the course, and other details. Votes of thanks were passed to members of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive for their kindness and hospitality, and to Mrs Johnson for presiding.