Importance of the family unit

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32640, 23 June 1971, Page 6

Importance of the family unit

The privileges and joys of motherhood were far more important than the material gains obtained by going out to work, said Miss Jean A. Smith, Dominion president of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, at the annual conference in Invercargill last evening.

When there was so much talk of Women’s Liberation, W.D.F.F. members had the responsibility of assuring young people that there was nothing more important than the family unit, said Miss Smith, according to a supplied report. Mothers should avoid going out to work, where at all posisble, while there were still children of school age in the home. •VOCIFEROUS MINORITY’ Mothers who stayed at home should not suffer from an inferiority complex as a result of publicity given to a vociferous minority who belittled the importance of the vital' task of home-making, she said. Miss Smith asked members to "take every opportunity to counter this tendency.” Its Women.’s Division could help, she said, by arranging stimulating programmes at meetings. This would provide an interest outside of home for younger women who sometimes found domesticity a little monotonous.

Hie W.D.F.F. could also organise a roster system for looking after members’ children so that mothers could have an occasional break from the domestic scene.

Members should be proud to accept responsibility and leadership in the Women’s Division, the role of which

might be changing but was as important today as in the past. Reviewing the year’s activities, Mrs Smith said the emergency housekeeper scheme continued to be a very vital and important part of W.D.F.F.’s work. The reduced tariff for age beneficiaries at the “Te Kiteroa” rest home at Waimate had proved so popullar that it would be extended to the "Melrose” home at Nelson.

Concern for education continued. The successful candidate for this year’s boarding school bursary was Beverley Tuck, of Nelson (Creek branch, Westland provincial). The Rangitikeo Oroua provincial had recently awarded a bursary for a Maori girl to attend Turakina Maori Girls* College for four years. Many provincials and branches had their own projects such as care for the aged, school bursaries, seaside cottages, rest homes, meeting rooms forestry schemes, and many others. The purpose of these was to

be of help and service to the community. The division had several annual projects to encourage members to keep themselves informed of international affairs. This year’s winner of the Cora Wilding cup for the W.D.F.F. essay competition was Mrs M. J. Riley (West Taieri branch). This year’s subject was: “What form of aid or assistance should New Zealand be offering to SouthEast Asia?”

A second project with an international theme was the study of a country. Norway had been chosen for the last year, because the triennial conference of the Associated Country Women of the World will be held in Oslo in August. A New Zealand delegation will attend. One of the division’s efforts to promote wool was the annual competition for a

home-made woollen garment —this year, a ski jumper. The winner was Mrs Hope Burnett (Eastern Southland).

FINDING ON RESEARCH The W.D.F.F.’s finding on research into country medical services and rural education would be reported to the conference, said Miss Smith. Pollution and hydatids control were two subjects studied by members during the year. The W.D.F.F. was now represented on the Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity. The anti-litter campaign had been strongly supported. The United Nations had designated this year as International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. Branches should take every opportunity to stimulate and participate in local activities aimed at eliminating discrimination in ail its forms. They should work to promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship within the community for people of all races, colour, and creeds, said Miss Smith.