W.D.F.U.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 14

W.D.F.U.

ADVISORY BOARD MEETS

The fact that women in the country districts are well aware of the events in their own land as Well as those in a wider fjeld was well exemplified at the meeting o£ the Dominion Advisory Board of the W.D.F.U. which took place in Wellington. Mrs. J. F. Drake (Otago) presided.

Mrs. Barrer reported that she had taken the opportunity after conference of approaching the Minister of Education in order to put before him the suggestions made for the extension of the correspondence school course, and the following reply had come to hand:—"ln "reference to your scheme for extending the work of the correspondence, school, I have now much pleasure in informing • that arrangements will be made for occasional visits to pupils by selected members ot the staff and for district gatherings wherever possible. The matter of allowing correspondence school pupils to share in the, privilege of free conveyance .by rail will receive careful consideration. The problem of broadcasts- for correspondence school children is', under consideration, and the Department is investigating means whereby it may be possible for parents to obtain receiving sets. At present few of these isolated homes possess a radio receiving apparatus, but it is hoped that it will be possible to put a scheme into operation shortly." Members of the board inspected the premises acquired at 114 The Terrace for new Dominion headquarters, and expressed great pleasure that accommodation had been secured that would provide the necessary facilities for club or meeting room for visiting countrywomen. It was decided to give branches desirous of doing so the opportunity of contributing gifts towards the furnishing of the new rooms. The appointment of Mesdames T. R. Barrer, H. Hawthorn, and A. B. Smith to represent the division on the committee for the arrangements in con-, nection with the Countrywomen's Section at the New Zealand Centennial i Exhibition was endorsed, and plans in preparation for the general observance of the Centenary were discussed at some length by the officials. Putaruru branch wrote urging that the board take some action in pressing for legislation restricting the drinking allowed in and around dance halls. Very great concern was felt at the state of things reported, and it was decided to communicate with the Dominion executive of the W.C.T.U. urging that some concerted action by women's societies should be taken.

A request had been received soon after the annual Dominion conference asking that the officials make a nomination for a. woman to be appointed to the vacant seat in the Upper House. The Dominion president had refex-red the matter to an emergency committee, but it had been found that existihg laws made it impossible for a woman to be appointed. A resolution was passed that this matter be brought before the notice of branches so that pressure can be brought to bear to have the laws amended to allow women to be appointed or fleeted to the Upper House. •

The advisability of offering increased wages to housekeepers in view of the very great difficulty in getting women for the division's work, especially through the busy holiday seasons, occupied the attention of the meeting for some considerable time, and various schemes for raising the status of domestic work, generally to make it more attractive to girls, were outlined. To meet the present acute shortage of domestic labour the' importation ofj girls and women from Britain was suggested, also those of a suitable type from some European countries.