HOUSEWIVES’ UNION

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27473, 6 October 1954, Page 2

HOUSEWIVES’ UNION

ANNUAL MEETING "There have been times during the year when the executive has been very concerned about our depleted membership and the small attendances at meetings, but I am sure that when you hear the reports from the secretary and treasurer you will agree with me that we have had an active and successful year,” said Mrs M, Adcock, the retiring president of the Canterbury Housewives’ Union at the annual meeting last evening. "I feel what we have lacked in quantity has been made up in quality,” she added. "I will appeal to all members not to let our union drift into an organisation such as the Country Women’s Institutes. “While I have every respect for these women’s groups—they have a place in our society—l feel they tend to entertain women," said Mrs Adcock. “We should aim more to enlighten women of the place they can take in the community in general. We must strive to keep our union above party politics, but with an awareness of the political side of life because, after all, politics affect our everyday life—the food we eat and the clothes we wear,” she concluded. Matters on which the union made representation during the year included the sale of low-grade comics, the cost of living, the price tribunal inquiry, electricity charges, experimental houses, improved facilities in women’s rest rooms, metal over-all tops or milk bottles, the quality of nylon tockings, 2oz markings on butter vrappers, and more playground equipnent for children in the Botanic Gardens. Members agreed that the annual subscription of the union be increased from 2s 6d to 3s 6d. Officers were elected as follows: president, Mrs M. E. Furey; vicepresidents, Mrs K. Dunmill and Mrs V. Turner; secretary, Mrs J. Ryan; treasurer, Mrs B. Guyton; executive Mesdames S. Rhodes, A. Rosenberg, C. Hunter, M. Ogg, and M. Adcock; delegate to Social Services Council, Mrs Guyton; delegate to National Council of Women, Mrs Adcock; delegate to Peace Council, Mrs Adcock; reporters, Mrs E. Locke and Mrs Turner.