FARMERS’ WIVES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 249, 17 July 1937, Page 7

FARMERS’ WIVES

W.D.F.U. Discuss Further Remits CONFERENCE ENDS Yesterday morning marked the conclusion of the conference of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, the early part of the morning being taken up with the election of further officers, and later with discussion on late remits. Mrs. Hebbard (Taihape), and Mrs. Polson (Wanganui) were re-elected to the advisory bush nurse and housekeeper auxiliary; and to the finance committee the following were elected: Mrs. Mathieson, Mrs. McNeil, Mrs. Preshaw (all of Wellington); Mrs. Hawthorn (Upper Hutt) ; Pan-Pacific, Mrs. Jackson; war relief, Mrs. Lundins; fed cross, Mrs. Angus. Co-ordinating committee : Mesdames Drake, Barrer, Noel Adams, with another member to be elected from the advisory board. A remit: “That the W.D.F.U. support a policy of ordered immigration of selected and trained British immigrants on a quid pro quo basis with Great Britain as outlined by the Empire Immigration Societies of Great Britain,” was carried after considerable discussion,' as was also a remit that in future no late remits would be received from country branches after a given date. Another remit asked “That the Government expand their scheme of in-terest-free money to farmers to build houses for farm workers, to be paid for over a term of years by a sinking fund at. 4 to 5 per cent.; the first reason for so doing being to widen the scope of available married labour for farmers; and the second, for relieving the farmers’ wives of a great deal of drudgery in having to provide for so many farm workers.” This was carried unanimously, as also were two further remits asking the Government to sub-, sidise the building of cottages on farms and in arranging for the erection on farms of cottages for married employees. Animated discussion preceded the passing of a remit stating “That since the average family in New Zealand is 1.4 children, a basic wage providing for the needs of a man, his wife and three children is inequitable, and a more equitable arrangement could be made by allotting a basic wage providing for a man, his wife, and adding thereafter an allowance for each child as it arrives.” It was also agreed to urge the Government to make some effort to reduce the overhead costs in the distribution of milk to the public in cities.

“That we consider that where a woman is the breadwinner she should have the same right as a man in sharing any advantages of legislation,” provoked much discussion, and was finally carried unanimously. Remarking that the failure of New Zealand to keep her best brains in the country was largely the fault of her bad grading system, Mrs. Barrer pointed out that the loss to New Zealand of some of her cleverest men and women through. offering them no scope for their activities was of very grave importance. A remit dealing with this subject; “That we deplore the fact that, in the past, Governments which have been pleased for New Zealand students to accept Rhodes Scholarships have failed to do their part in the scheme of Cecil Rhodes by making use of these young men on their return to New Zealand,” was unanimously carried.

“That in view of the fact that the profits made by armament firms are an inducement to them to welcome war ad a means of making further profits, we consider the manufacture of armaments should be a Government undertaking,” was a remit carried with a majority consent; and yet another, brought before the W.D.F.U. by the national council, “That this conference expresses its firm belief that legislation should be introduced to provide for the training and employment of suitable women as police officers, and asks that a letter be sent to the Minister of Justice affirming this” was carried unanimously. One which provoked a great deal of discussion urged that the hours of work for nurses who are training be modified to enable them to devote more time to their studies. It was pointed out that nurses very often have to take much of their leisure time to attend lectures, instead of being able to enjoy much-needed rest or recreation in the open air. The remit was carried, “That as the Government now controls both railway and bus, we ask that children be permitted to travel by bus instead of having to wait hours for a train, arriving home after dark in winter,” was a remit, which, as the president pointed out, was almost of purely local interest to a Southland branch, but for which it was felt desirable to have the support of the conference. It was carried with a majority vote. At the conclusion of the conference bouquets were presented to Mrs. Drake (the newly-elected Dominion president), Mrs. Wickham, and Mrs. 0. K. Wilson, in appreciation of the work they have done in connection with the W.D.F.U. Mrs. Drake concluded with a short speech in which she thanked all members for their support, and expressed her appreciation of the good work done by former officers.