N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 May 1928, Page 7

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

WGALEN'S ULVISION. 'MEETING AT ELTOLCM. ■ At the inaugural meeting of the Eltha.ni branch of the Women's Division, E-Id on Saturday, there was a good atteiulanec. Mrs Cocker, who was in the chair, introduced .Mrs Harris, president of the Oakura branch, and called upon iier to address the meeting. Mrs Harris remarked that perhaps the most- important thing being done in her own district was the fostering of a community spirit. She pointed out that women do not always realise their own importance, in the home, in the community and also in a national wav. She said .'that having given their children the ideal and the principles of their own home, the women should realise that they should not only send them out well" equipped to face the world, they should be there before them, moulding conditions. 'Public opinion was formed far more by women Can by men, and if women would stand out and let it be known that they vvill not tolerate wrong conditions, they could make great changes. Mrs Harris said that more and more women were being found fitted to fill positions for which only men were considered efficient hitherto; an ( [ at the same time among farmers especially the wives were involved intimately ill the business of the breadwinner and their judgment and abiliFy wore relied on by their husbands. Besides the home and community in!i rests, there were also interests by which farmers’ wives could benefit one another. Mrs Harris mentioned the bush-nursing scheme, allied with which i, that of relieving housekeepers, these In ing now in full working order, and also spoke of suggested schemes, for instance Women ’3 Exchanges, by which i ountrv women could make a small income, or at least pocket money by their handiwork, which would be disposed of at some central depot. It was hoped that the Women’s Division would whole hear ted ly support the movement in the medical profession for providing maternity wards in all hospitals. Another idea brought forward was that of waiting homes or rest homes for women who have to come into town to nursing homes. After once more impressing on the meeting the possibilities ahead of ’women. if they would baud themselves together, and cultivate a wide outlook .Mud foresight. Mrs Harris wished the newlv formed branch till success.

Mrs Crocker then called up on Mrs Carter, president of the Hawera branch, to address the* meeting. Mrs Carter dealt briefly with the wish of the mem. tiers in her branch to see country schools graded according to the numbers in classes, rather than the total attendance*. in some cases the headteacher may be teaching eighteen to tweiitv children, while the assistant teachers had to manage twice that number, while* in other cases the* headteacher might, have forty or fifty pupils with much smaller numbers in the lower classes; The*re was also the* epiostion of red regrade children! in the* country schools eiue no doubt tee handicaps in teaching, many chileircn bedng two and three years too obi for their standard, and consequently missing the* chances of scholarships and in too many eases, leaving school simply to go on the farms, when otherwise they might have eontinueel their education. Airs Carter urged the members of the* new -branch to'attond as many of the branch meetings as possible* to bring up their ideas fin'd suggestions, which woulel always be welcome, and would be talked over, ami where it was thought advisable, would be passed on in flic form of re; mits and brought up finally at the Dominion executive ceniferene'c for discussiem. Mrs Cocker then called upon Mrs to fake tlee chair and the election of officers was proceedeil with. The result was as follows: President. Mrs -Cocker; vice-presidents, Mrs A. ißoddie and Mrs Pitcaithly; ' secretary. Airs •Simpson. The names of those present were Alesdames Mason, Edwards, Pennington, ’Simpson, Ogle. Jordan, Salzburger, Dee, A. Boddie, Pitcaithly, Cocker. Carter and Harris. Tt was decided to hold a monthly meeting on the first -Saturday of every month. Mrs Cocker asked the meeting to pess a vote, of thanks to Alesdames Carter and Harris respectively. She said that she would like to make it clear that Mrs Gillies, in her canvassing, had not intended to show any neglect in not calling on the wives of Farmers’ Union members. Her reason was that her husband’s time was very valuable and she felt she must not encroach on it unduly. She hoped the wives of Farm. 01 s’ Union' members would feel that they would be very welcome in the Women's Division. Up-to-date the membership of the Eltham branch is 71. A vote of thanks to the chairman was 11-cn passed. Thanks arc due to the Borough Council for the use of the room in the* council building, in which the meeting was held.