W.D.F.F. golden jubilee conference next week

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33870, 16 June 1975, Page 6

W.D.F.F. golden jubilee conference next week

The Women’s Division of Federated Farmers will hold its golden jubilee conference in Wellington next week. More than 700 delegates as well as observers from all parts of New Zealand are expected to attend.

the Governor-General (Sir Dje n i s Blundell) will officially open the conference on June 23, when the W.D.F.F. Golden Jubilee Fellowship will be presented. The fellowship is for a three-year programme of research into leptospirosis at the Veterinary School at Massey University, funds for which have been raised by W.D.F.F. members for the past two years. BURSARIES

At the opening ceremony successful candidates for the 1976 scholastic year will be

■ announced by the Dominion ! president, Mrs J. M. Bryant, I of Manakau. These bursaries, two of which are for $3OO a year, are awarded annually to give children of members who live in remote areas the opportunity to attend secondary school for four years.

. Dominion level honours will be awarded during the conference to members who have given distinguished service to the organisation. A wide variety of topics ■ will be discussed from remits during conference sessions. They include a request for the replacement of estate duty by succession duties and a moratorium on all plans for new computer systems bearing on the privacy of New Zealanders until legislation has been enacted to create safeguards. A proposed amendment to the Police Offences Act regarding the sale or disposal of contraceptives to children is included in the remits. The establishment of halls of residence for provincial technical institutes and financial assistance for mothers of correspondence school children are sought in others.

A comprehensive programme deals with the many facets of the work done by W.D.F.F., including the assistance given in hundreds of homes of members and non-members through an emergency housekeeper scheme, as well as through rest and holiday homes in

Auckland and Waimate and a seaside cottage at Stanmore Bay. RURAL WOMEN Final plans will be made at the conference for a survey on rural women now being done by tne psychology and sociology department of the University of Canterbury in collaboration with the W.D.F.F. An international programme has been arranged for the evening of June 24, when the international officer. Miss J. A. Smith, will announce the winner of [the Cora Wilding Com- ; petition, a project for an ! illustrated essay on agriculI tural development in India during the past 50 years. A report will be given on the triennial conference in Perth of the Associated Country Women of the World, of which the W.D.F.F. is a constituent member. The conference was attended by a delegation of W.D.F.F. members.

The winning entry in the organisation’s musical play competition will be presented at a social evening on June 25 and Malvina Major will sing the winning entryin the song contest. The final judging of the Jubilee Gown of the Year contest will be held on the same evening. The conference programme also includes a golden jubilee dinner to mark 50 years of community service by the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers.