THE WOMEN’S DIVISION

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 11

THE WOMEN’S DIVISION

FARMERS’ WIVES MEET VARIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED A conference of the Otago Provincial Council of the women’s division of the Fanners’ Union was held in the R.S.A. Rooms this morning, Mrs J. F. Drake (Berwick) presiding over a large attendance. PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. •' Lt gives me very great pleasure to meet you all here to-day,” said Mrs Drake" “ I trust that our deliberations will be worthy of the splendid organisation we represent, and that all delegates will return to their branches renewed in enthusiasm and broadened in outlook as a result of our conference to-dayu “ Again much progress has been made in the work of the women’s division, and our numbers are increasing rapidly,” sho continued. “We have forty-five branches throughout Otago, with a membership of 1,100. which is very gratifying to the organisers. “ We have had a course of lectures and demonstrations, as well as box lectures from the home science department, which have been interesting and instructive, and wo greatly appreciate Piofcssor Strong’s interest in the country women. We are grateful to Mrs Wedge for her demonstrations on making an armchair.

“ During the last six months wo have bad a great many applications for housekeepers, and at present there arc several employed, also two sewing women are engaged in Central Otago. ” A very strong and enthusiastic branch of the women’s division has been formed in Dunedin, and the spirit of co-operation between the town and country women should be to our mutual benefit. I take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Dunedin branch for their very valuable help in connection with the weekly market.

“ Referring to the serious economic position of the world, although this country is in an infinitely' better position than most, most of us are passing through a time which calls forth qualities of courage and in many cases selfsacrifice. Wo fully 7 realise that many women in the cities are going through difficult times, but perhaps few other than country women themselves realise how desperately bard is the lot of the woman on the land and what desperate straits she is in financially. My 7 object in stressing this is to emphasise the fact that an organisation such as our women’s division - can do a tremendous lot at a time like this by making the lot of tho country 7 women less hard by infusing a spirit of kindliness and friendship right through the districts in which the division is working.

"We are greatly indebted to the office of Iho Otago Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Association for tho tremendous help it has rendered both in organisation and assistance with the actual routine work. Miss Finlnyson and her assistants arc actually on' the Fanners’ Union mutual insurance staff, and the division does not have any responsibility for their salaries. ‘‘ln conclusion the-women’s division is tho finest country women's organisation, and should have pride of place for all other women’s organisations in every district. The slogan should be;— ‘W.D.F.U.—Women’s Division First Undoubtedly.’ ". (Applause.)

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL UNFITNESS. The conference was opened by Dr Marion Whyte, who spoke on a remit to be discussed dealing with physical and mental unfitness. The remit was discussing the adult and was locking the stable door after the horse had been stolen. Sho wished to discuss mental and physical unfitness at its source—the homo. A home could divert a stream at its source. All the resources of engineering could not accomplish this sometimes for a flowing river. The first four years of a child’s life belonged to its mother, and if in those years the foundation were well and truly laid all the later troubles of life could hardly shake the edifice. So far as babyhood was concerned they could see what the inauguration of a national policy (the Plunket Society) had achieved. There had been a time when the society had been_ smiled at. There might be minor criticism, but no one doubted the value of the scheme. It was, in effect, an adult school for mothers. She would like to see the principle of adult education extended so that mothers, when their interest was excited, could get the practical knowledge they needed in their homes. Dr Whyte was warmly thanked for her address. HOME SCIENCE ACTIVITIES. Professor A. G. Strong spoke of the objects and activities of the Home Science Bureau of the Otago University. Miss Edith Reid, tutor-organiser, told the conference of the bureau’s plans. OPPOSITION TO EDUCATIONAL CURTAILMENTS. A deputation from the Otago branch of the New 7 Zealand Educational Institute, consisting of Misses L. Sullivan, J. Robertson, and E. J. Smith, waited on the conference. Miss Sullivan said that they wished to make the members acquainted with some of the proposed attacks on the educational system and enlist their sympathy'. Both as mothers and representatives of the most important primary industry they would be vitally interested. It was feared that education, being a non-revenue-producing department, might be made the scapegoat in the economic crisis. But they could not afford to forget that the greatest wealth of a country was to bo measured, not in coin or goods, but in the trained intelligence and upright character of its people. Several factors wore causing uneasiness among those most closely in touch with political activities that some of the educational privileges gained little bv little through long years might be taken away. It was feared that the percentage of passes in the proficiency examinations might be restricted in order to reduce the number of entrants to the secondary schools. The portfolio of Education had been given to a member of the Upper House who was not directly answerable to the people for anything he might do.' They had no assurance that the same thing might not happen again. Various facts seemed to indicate that drastic curtailment in education was intended. In order to avoid popular resentment the curtailment might in the future bo brought about gradually. It behoved all interested, therefore, to watch carefully the trend of events and to guard in no uncertain way the privileges they had won. Miss Sullivan added that the Educational was putting two questions to candidates for Parliament.

Each Otago candidate had already received them. They were; “ Will you resist any attempt to cut down educational opportunities for the youth of this dominion?” and “ Will you, in the interests of economy and efficiency, support measures to bring about a system under which one body in each locality shall control primary, secondary, and technical education?” These two questions illustrated in a broad sense the attitude of the Educational Institute. They realised that economies must be made and that education must have its reasonable share. But they would strongly resist the attempt to place a lifelong handicap on the children now in schools and to make them the victims of a depression the institute confidently believed was, only a passing phase. Misses Robertson and Smith also spoke. After an informal discussion the luncheon adjournment was taken.