FARMERS' WIVES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1927, Page 12

FARMERS' WIVES

REQUESTS FOR AID

MADE TO PRIME MINISTER

RAILWAY CONCESSIONS

Fifty or sixty members of the women's branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, accompanied by a number of members of Parliament, waited on the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates) to-day with a request that free railway passes should be granted to the union's nurse and travelling housekeeper, and that free carriage should be granted for books circulated by the union's library.

The president of the branch (Mrs. W. J. Poison) saia that the deputation was not asking for a subsidy, but simply for free passes for their nurse and their housekeeper, who were doing excellent work in assisting farmers' wives to overcome the many difficulties with which they were faced. There were too many cases of "nerves" and too many eases of maternal mortality in the country districts, and anything the_ Government did to help them in their work would have a beneficial effect on the country as a whole. Mrs. Jackson said that the women's branch of the union had established a book club at Marton, and books were being distributed to women in the- country districts. They could not afford to pay the carriage charges, and asked for free carriage. Mrs. Poison remarked that the lot of the farmer's wife and children was not an enviable one, and unless their circumstances were altered, and their existence brightened, there would soon be very f^w people left in the country.

Mr. Coates: "I can assure you they would soon get very tired of the towns. They would want to get back to the country. I know I do."

Mrs. Poison said that an annual subscription of 2s 6d was charged for membership of the book club, but that went in overhead expenses. Sir George Hunter, M.P., supported the requests.

Mr. Coates said nothing would please him better than to be able to say to the deputation that they could have their free passes, but if he granted them it was possible that they would receive dozens, if not hundreds, of other requests for similar privileges. They had to make sure that the railway revenue did not suffer too much, as that would mean that the Government would not be able to help the farmers in more vital directions, such as freight charges. Mr. Coates said that, without definitely giving the free passes, he thought he would be able to fix it up so that they got them at very little cost. Mrs. Poison: "But we don't want even a little cost. Would you rather we asked for a subsidy?" Mr. Coates: "Much rather. Then I would be able to say: 'You've come to the wrong place, Mrs. Poison. Go next' door to the Minister of Finance.' " (Laughter.) Mr. Coates said that he thought he would be able to adjust the matter. He would also bo pleased to look into the matter of free carriage of books. &