W.D.F.F. to decide fate of property

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 5

W.D.F.F. to decide fate of property

One of the most important matters facing the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers this year is whether to relinquish “Melrose.” the home in Nelson which is held under deed of trust, in view of the increasing costs of running and maintaining the historic property.

The issue will be decided at the annual conference of the W.D.F.F., which this year will be held in the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga, in the last week in June.

The business sessions of the conference will cover all aspects of the work of the Women's Division, including the assistance given in hundreds of homes through the emergency housekeeper scheme, the demand for which has increased considerably this year, and the activities at the popular rest and holiday homes in Auckland, Waimate and Nelson, the Honda Club rooms in Wellington, and Hanis Cottage, the seaside cottage at Stanmore Bay.

Medical survey

Results will be given of a recent survey made in connection with medical services in rural areas, and a report will be presented on the measures taken during the year to ensure adequate educational facilities for the rural child, including the submissions made to the Minister of Education arising from an educational conference convened jointly by the W.D.F.F. and Federated Farmers. The conference will be officially opened on the afternoon of June 26, by the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk). Over 500 delegates will attend. During the opening function the successful candidate for the W.D.F.F. bursary, which starts in the 1974 school year, will be announced by the dominion president, (Mrs J. N. Bryant, of Manakau). These bursaries, one of which is awarded each year, give children of members who live in remote areas the opportunity to attend

(secondary school for four I years. An important part of the programme will be the : presentation of Dominion i honours. The organisation’s I highest honour, Dominion I life-membership, will be awarded to the immediate past-president (Miss J. A. Smith of Clarkville). Among the topics coming forward for discussion through the remits are the regulations in connection with a proposed change in use of any area set aside as a forest sanctuary and uniformity in the design of seat belts. Elections will be held for the offices of South Island vice-president and four Dominion councillors from each island. The Dominion president (Mrs Bryant) the Dominion treasurer (Mrs L. I. Roberts, of Hamilton) and the North Island vice-president I (Mrs W. Tarrant, of Hawera) have been re-elected unopposed. A guest speaker at the conference will be Mr John Pryde, general secretary of Federated Farmers.

An international programme has been arranged for the evening of Wednesday June 27, when the guest speaker will be Mrs E. D. Holt, area vice-president for the South Pacific of the Associated Country Women of the World, of which the Women’s Division is a constituent member. The international officer (Miss J. A. Smith) will present a report on the organisation’s international work, and during the evening the winner of the Cora Wilding essay competition will read her entry. This is an annual competition initiated by Miss Wilding, of Kaikoura, as a means of creating greater understanding of conditions in Asian countries. The title this year was “Recent educational progress in the developing countries of Asia.” A social programme on the final evening, Thursday June 28th, will include the presentation of prizes given by the Wool Board to the winners of the W.D.F.F. wool competitions. The conference will end on Friday, June 29.