W.D.F.F. DISPLAY AT RANGIORA SHOW

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28728, 28 October 1958, Page 2

W.D.F.F. DISPLAY AT RANGIORA SHOW

How many of us today could find space for a wicker whatnot in our homes—that strange contraption of bent cane and rattan shelving that stood in the corner of the Victorian drawing room? Similarly, silver-mounted snuff horns are no longer the fashion and a tea chest in polished walnut with a lock to prevent waste by the maidservant is not one of the usual lines stocked today by leading grocers. These items were part of a tableau display exhibited by the Canterbury North section of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers at the Rangiora Show on Saturday. The display, which filled a small marquee, was the work of the 14 branches in the section and portrayed the many activities of the division. Foothills To Sea” “From the foothills to the sea" was one theme of the tableau, and native ferns and plants drooped over rocks beside a little stream to contrast the sea shells and sand of the accompanying display. This demonstrated the coverage of North Canterbury the branches of the division have from Oxford and View Hill to Leithfield and Woodend and from Amberley to Clarkeville and East Eyre ton. A stall typical of a “Bring and buy” was kept busy all day as members brought their gifts of produce, preserves, and sundries in for the sale and made their purchases of others to swell the funds of the divisons in the usual way. The cloth which covers the table at each meeting of the Clark-ville-East Eyreton branch was an outstanding feature of the tableau. Embroidered on the cloth are the signatures of all the members of the branch since IS3S, with the signatures of the presidents and their terms of office embroidered in the centre panel. A little cross in black silk beside an occasional name records the branch’s remembrance of members who have since died. Children’s Corner The children’s corner beside the table had dolls and gailypainted toys representing the tiny tots who play together while

mothers play their part in the activities of the meeting. The division’s service to the community was portrayed by several bays along one wall of the tent Service to the aged was displayed as a collection of gifts made by division members and set against a backdrop of yesterday. The wicker whatnot stood proudly in the corner with its precious pieces of china and bric-a-brac. A christening gown 150 years old lay alongside a snuff box made from the tip of an ox horn. The tea chest and some photographs of the past stood on the table above a beautifully worked rag mat. Dressed in period costume a present-day member sat in a rocking chair beneath a crossstitched sampler. The date—--1854. Service to the young was a display of suitable toys for different age groups with dolls representing the children. Service to the mothers was set against a background of a doll’s house, lawn, and garden. Complete with her overnight bag the Women’s Division housekeeper doll was being greeted by the mother, complete with voluminous smock, and several toddlers, with the front lawn in happy disorder with toys and play things. On the back lawn whirling merrily in a make-believe wind was the inevitable clothes line filled to capacity. The activities of the W.D.F.F. branch into many fields, and the tableau display on Saturday was a most effective method of demonstration.