25th DOMINION CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 2

25th DOMINION CONFERENCE

WOMEN’S DIVISION OF FEDERATED FARMERS

“As women we are deeply concerned in all matters of health —the need for more maternity hospitals, adequate hospital accommodation, more research in medicine,” said Mrs J. R. Haldane, Dominion president of the Women's Division of Federated Farmers. She was addressing delegates to the twenty-fifth Dominion conference of the division in Wellington.

It was claimed that in social services New Zealand led the world and in a country so richly blessed, the standard of health should be high. Plunket babies attracted favourable comment from overseas visitors, but how did the health of the Dominion’s adult population compare with that of other countries?

“Are we using wisely the good things that our country provides so abundantly? This is the question we, the home-makers, must answer. It is our concern.” said Mrs Haldane.

Closely-allied with health was education, she said. This, too, was women’s concern.

Mrs Haldane praised the correspondence school system in which personal relationship between teacher and child was a special feature and asked her hearers to see that in the home things of the spirit were given their rightful place and that in the home children should find love and security, two essentials to their development. This, the silver jubilee year, Mrs Haldane said7*"was an occasion when homage was paid to those courageous women who. in the face of odds, founded the movement.

The far-reaching and beneficial results of the housekeeper scheme and holiday house and the community chest, still the “kernel of our movement.” were dealt with in the report. Lady Freyberg, in opening the conference, said: “It is the landmark of a notable stage of progress.” The Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) brought greetings to the conference from the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) and the Government. The Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children (Mrs G. H. Ross) said the women's division comprised practical people, giving practical help as neighbours. citizens and friends.