WOMEN’S DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 February 1934, Page 6

WOMEN’S DIVISION

MEETING OF BRANCH MEMBERS. NEW PRESIDENT WELCOMED. A gathering of members of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union from various branches in South Taranaki was held yesterday in the Hawera Winter Show Buildings, when a welcome was given Mrs IV . 11. Ward, the recently-elected Dominion president who is paying her first official visit to this district. There was an attendance of about 100 members and Mrs C. Benton, South Taranaki president, was in the chair. Among those present were Mrs A. E. Death, Hawera president; Mrs W. 0. Carter (Hunter Road); Mrs J Cocker (Eltham) an* Mrs F. Le Fleming (Otakehoj) and most of the branches were represented. . . . An interesting and, instructive address was given by Mrs Ward, who talked of the work of the conference and specially referred to the house-keeper-nurse scheme, remarking in the latter connection that farmers’ wives were likely to be “up against it” with a shortage of help. She briefly outlined new schemes for financing tho movement and specially stressed the need of helping the country women first. Mrs Ward urged the call for help to the handcraft and other forms of work done in the home and stressed the desirability of making meetings more attractive and interesting and by urging more women to join the division.

Mrs Benton thanked Mrs Ward for her address. Mrs W. E. Carter said she considered the time was coming when housekeepers would need to be trained and she urged the need of a scheme for helping the boys of the farms. r A bouquet was presented to Mrs. Ward by Mrs E. Meuli. In a ‘talk with a “Star” representative, Mrs Ward said she had just assumed office as Dominion president this year after a period first as branch and then as Southland president It was quite amazing the number of calls there were for the housekeeper and nurse. There were thirty always on the division register and they could do with many more just now and she would like to state that help was always available to any country woman in need. It was considered by the executive to be a kind of “insurance”. The women on the list were paid 25s per week. Despite the number registered the Dominion secretary reported ten calls last week which could not be filled. The executive was busy with other schemes and one such was a superannuation fund to be maintained by voluntary donations, received' in the “community chest.” All that members paid was 2s 6d as an annual subscription and little could be paid out of that, Mrs Ward paid a glowing tribute to the hard and unselfish work of the nurses who were wonderful in looking after the people to whom they went, They were the means of alleviating distress in many a case out in the country. -It was always hoped that the women who went out would show initiative in taking charge of a home and this was practically always the case. When the home was not large enough to accommodate the housekeeper, a tent- was sent out and this was used bv her. “Recently,” said Mrs Ward, “we had the misfortune to lose the first housekeeper registered on the Dominion Executive list. Miss Brown was an educated woman of whom all thought a great deal. Slie has had to give up the work because of illness, much to the regret of every one concerned in the movement. She has done excellent service for eight years and her loss will ho severely felt.” A problem to be overcome was that or unemployed girls and to. this, the executive were directing their efforts. Mrs Ward has been visiting various parts of the district and has already opened two new branches —Pukongalm and Pembroke Road—and hopes to o-et several more added before, she leaves for the Bay of Plenty. There the division lias had a hard struggle and nevor has had the help of an ofri-c-iaL visit, from the president, She hopes oreat results as the outcome of her tour in that growing district.