AMALGAMATION SUGGESTED

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32885, 7 April 1972, Page 5

AMALGAMATION SUGGESTED

New Zealand rural women would not be a voice to be reckoned with until they spoke as one organisation, Mrs N. Schroeder, a former Dominion president of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, said in Christchurch yesterday. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Canterbury provincial committee of W.D.F.F., Mrs Schroeder said the W.D.F.F. and

Country Women’s Institutes fulfilled the same needs. “The rock on which amalgamation has perished in the past has been the W.D.F.F.’s connection with the farmers* organisations. However, this does not apply as much today when C.W.I. members sit along with W.D. members at Federated Farmers’ meetings. “The question of property has been solved very well by churches who have united, so I don’t see that as a stumbling block,” Mrs Schroeder said. She also emphasised the need for the W.D.F.F. to continue to grow and expand. “We will be 50 years old in three years time and I feel we have got into a middle-aged rut. This organisation was founded to help the women and children of the land in various ways including our housekeeping and nursing schemes.” There was a need for young blood and fresh ideas, she said, and for the organisation to aim for high goals and keep on with its plans. The W.D.F.F. had played a part in the establishment of the district nursing scheme and school dental clinics — both of which were worthwhile projects and pursued by the division until something was done, she said. "I wonder if an enterprising branch or branches would be willing to operate our housekeeper scheme like the district nurses. You would then have a full-time housekeeper in the district who would either have her car supplied or her mileage subsidised, who would visit families for a few hours a day. I feel this would work more successfully than the present scheme.” Officers elected at the meeting: President, Mrs W. Oakley; secretary, Mrs E. Edmond; treasurer, M[s H. W. Rule; housekeeping secretary, Mrs R. Fraser; vicepresidents, Mesdames A. L. Wakelin, M. Martini. E. Haste; committee, Mesdames F. Kolkman, M. Kissell, N.I Campbell; advisory committee, Mesdames L. Blamires, W. E. Wright; co-ordinating committee, Mesdames A. L. Wakelin, N. Campbell, R. V. Chapman, W, Oakley,