Rural women confer

Press, 15 June 1977, Page 14

Rural women confer

The Women’s Division of Federated Farmers has set itself a tremendous business agenda for its fifty-second annual Dominion conference, to be held in Christchurch from June 27 to July 1. More than 1000 delegates and observers .vill examine nearly 30 remits, mainly on topics of national and community concern. In an effort to reduce the road accident rate, the MidSouthland provincial executive of the rural women’s organisation will state its case for seeking provisional driving licences only for 15 to 17-year-olds and for a defensive driving course to be made compulsory before any licence is granted. Nelson women want manufacturers to produce only brightly coloured rainwear for all children so that they will be more clearly visible to motorists in wet weather and poor light conditions. The remit asks the W.D.F.F. to encourage parents to create a demand for this type of apparel. The increasing incidence of cruelty to children and the deterioration in family life are matters of deep concern to the organisation. They have prompted MidSouthland’s remit asking the Minister of Education (Mr Gandar) to give urgent con-' sideration to the provision |of a programme of education I for family living, “as op- ■ I posed to merely sex educa-| tion.” I Manawatu wants elemen-! i tary budgeting in general household thrift to be in-: :eluded in the curricula of; [forms 1 to 3 for both girls) and-boys. |

| The lack of emergency ! and free-calling telephone services in rural communities is behind Hurunui’s remit which urges the Post-master-General (Mr Wilkinson) to initiate a free-calling system to a subscriber’s nearest service centre. Waikato will give the conference its reasons for wanting regular information on the identification and treatment of pedicular-hair lice

nits to be shown on television. The wide variety of remits of public interest come under the headings of education, legislation, health and

general matters. Ten others [are related to constitution, 'organisation and procedure. !j “The main object of the Women’s Division of Federgated Farmers of New Zeailand is service, whether it I be to the country, the home,

-[the community, the school or the Church,” the Domis nion president (Mrs Noel 3 Wells) said yesterday. “Over . the past 52 years we have j achieved tremendous im’provements'in the rural sector by our continuous pressure on the Government of the day.” The conference will be officially opened by the president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand, Mrs Grace Hollan- : der, at the Town Hall auditorium on June 27. Other highlights of opening night will be the presentation of the Honora O'Neill Trophy and honours awards to members for dedicated service. CHURCH SERVICE Before they begin four days of hard work, delegates and observers will join in an | ecumenical service at Christ- | church Cathedral on the 1 Tuesday morning. I; On International Night the | Cora Wilding speech contest I will be decided. This year the topic is life in Papua New Guinea. During the conference reports will be given on research being done on the incidence of leptospirosis and on the progress of the two research fellows who have been financed by the W.D.F.F. To mark its golden jubilee in 1975, the organisas I tion made a research grant! ‘>'of $30,000 to the faculty of) Veterinary Science at; e Massey University for this 1 - work. i- On the night before the[ t conference closes, the annual; :, dinner will be held. J