NEWS FOR WOMEN HOMEMAKERS’ SCHOOL AT LINCOLN MUCH ENJOYED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28321, 5 July 1957, Page 2

NEWS FOR WOMEN HOMEMAKERS’ SCHOOL AT LINCOLN MUCH ENJOYED

Mentally stimulated and full of new ideas to turn over in their heads as they go about their daily i work, 45 women who have been attending the homemakers’ school at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, this week, will return to their homes this evening.

Refreshed after the five-day break from housework, they will go back to their families better able to cope with the daily routine and brighter companions for others in the house.

Most of the women belong to country women’s organisations. f and they will give talks or re- , ports on the school. Others have ( taken note of the names of lec- j turers, whom they intend to en- ( gage for talks to women in coun- ( try districts. In this way the bene- j fit of the school will reach beyond < the walls of the home, out into the ‘ rural community. Appeal of Talks IThe lectures were carefully ; planned by the Adult Education i Department, Canterbury University College, to give the widest < possible appeal to women whose job in life confines them largely I to their homes. i Seventeen experts on their parI ticular subject gave talks during the course. “There was something for everyone in each . lecture,” said Miss M. W. E. Carr, of Methven. “I feel these schools are a great help to women, whether they reside in the town or country. This is my third course. We live in a happy community atmosphere here and have plenty of chances to discuss our views on the lectures. I, personally, have made some good contacts in the way of finding speakers for our women’s institute,” she said. Mrs H. G. Morris, of MidCanterbury, said she would go home ready to undertake ‘‘extra things.” stocked up with plenty of food for thought to carry her through her housework. Value of Courses Although the school was planned for women who live in the Canterbury University College district. Mrs G. M. Charles, of Lauder, Central Otago, was a member because there was a local cancellation. She is on the Dominion executive of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers and knows the value of these courses, which she has attended in Otago.

“What a boon adult education is to the country woman; only those of us who live out of town realise just how much is to be gained from its programmes,” Mrs Charles said.

The general opinion of adult education was that it prevented country women from “mentally rusticating.” “This homemakers’ school was

open to all women in the university district, but I cannot understand why townswomen did not take advantage of it,” said Mrs I. J. W. Stewart of Taiko. “I intend to round up a few of my town friends to come to next year’s course. It would be an excellent opportunity for town and country women to meet. By living together, eating together and listening to lectures together for five days, they would soon get-, to know each other.” Mrs Stewart is the mother of two children, aged seven and 10, who she has left in the care of her husband. They have their hot mid-day meal with other children from their school at Stratheona Home Training School, which is run by the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, Pleasant Point. Debt To Husbands “We owe a great debt to our husbands; they have to cope with our work as well as their own while we are away,” said Mrs W. S. Coop, of Port Levy. Mrs Coop is particularly interested in horticulture. Through the lecturer on this subject she has been introduced to the names of several interesting shrubs. Now she has ordered them from a Christchurch nurseryman and will have them growing in her garden

on Sunday. Miss Rosemary Tovey, of Pleasant Point, and her friend, Miss Shirley Smith, of the same ? locality, are the youngest women ’ taking the course. Both are 18. . Miss Tovey works in the house ' and on the farm at home and is

’ a junior member of the Kakahu W.D.F.F. It was the variety of . the school’s programme which ap- > pealed to her. “These lectures j have improved my general know- , ledge tremendously,” she said. Part of The College

For every meal the women queued up, tray in hand, with the agricultural students in the college diningroom. This made them feel part of the college life “not just growths on the place.” as Mrs Morris put it. They enjoyed their meals because the food was good and because someone else had cooked them.

Miss Ray Robins, director of the school, said yesterday that the

women who had attended the school were the type who would really benefit from the course. They had also taken an intelligent interest in the planning of the course and many had already made suggestions to her for next year’s course. Miss Robins has been assisted at the school by Miss A. Borrie. Both are home science tutors on the staff of the Adult Education Department of Canterbury University College.