THE COUNTRY WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 219, 15 September 1932, Page 13

THE COUNTRY WOMEN.

HELP AND ASSISTANCE,

' Little is known of the fine work that is being carried on by the women's division of the Farmers' Union, and especially of its efforts to assist sick and helpless woihen on distant farms. A great part of the work lies in providing housekeepers for women in the country who have to leave their homes and helpless children when sonie sudden sickness hurries them away to a hospital and there is no one to leave in charge but ■ the husband. The work is the outcome of the starting of these branches some years ago, and has grown and grown till in Qtago alone • the women's.division has over. 60 housekeepers in constant employment. These workers are paid. 25/ a week, but this amount at the' present time is utterly beyond the means.of many farmers. It is here that the division steps in, accepts whatever can be afforded, and makes up the rest from its community chest. This is kept up by the branches, which once a year devote a day to raising money for the purpose. > The members pay half a crown a year subscription to the general; fund, and of this the bFanch keeps sixpence for; their own expenses. Another very-useful activity is the exchange table, which id set up at every meeting-, so that members can dispose of their own produce. The amount of money which lias been earned by the farmers' wives who are members is astonishing, and this money becomes their own pocket money. When it is known how hard it is for the women on farms to obtain ready money, even in good times, the benefit that such a form of exchange can be to their independence and individual tastes will be at once apparent. Mrs. Xoel Adams, who is a vicepresident of the provincial Waitemata Council and president of- the Clevedon branch, is hoping to open a branch in Auckland city as a centre from which the branches of the province can radiate. All these branches are non-political, and the women members composing them are greatly in sympathy with the Women's institutes, and hope - that any retired farmers' wives, who. know the conditions on farms, and whose children are now having a hard struggle, will come forward and- become members, and thus assist this generation of women on the i land. • ' v ■ •"