W. D. F. U.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 July 1935, Page 11

W. D. F. U.

Tenth Anniversary The tenth anniversary of the founding of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union has just concluded with a very successful conference in Wellington. The enormous amount of philanthropic wprk carried out by the division to assist country women and children was illustrated in various ways. Emergency housekeepers wore supplied from headquarters during the past six months to 505 calls. During the year 1153 engagements were fulfilled, of which 527 eases were subsidised from the community chest. Branches assisted this fund to the extent of £lll9 18s 4d. The Bush Nurse and Housekeepers scheme proved a national service, saving many country women from breakdowns. The division distributed £2200 in cash, of which £SOO was given to other organisations for special help. It was decided to contribute towards the King’s Jubilee Cancer Fund. As one in every seven died of cancer, the importance of finding a cure for this scourge could not be over-estimated. One provincial branch collected £BO for this purpose, another £3B, and a third £25, The dressmaking scheme, which was self-supporting, proved very successful in Southland, where 130 girls were learning dressmaking from a fully qualified person, who was paid an adequate salary.

Alothers’ Welfare Week is to be encouraged and branches are asked to co-operate with doctors and the Plunket Society for addresses and help on this occasion. Rest homes are being organised throughout the Dominion for tired mothers needing change and rest. The Girls’ Educational AVeek is another important plank in the division platform successfully started in Dunedin, and carried out since in other parts of the Dominion, Another national service is derived from the Dominion Book Club, of which Airs. Scott (Wanganui) has been a capable librarian. Alagazines are sent to hospitals, the Old People’s Home, Porirua Mental Hospital, and Flock House, while school hfooks are also sent to the ATaori Alission, Two thousand books have been sent out each year. Parcels of books and magazines are sent out about every four months to groups of subscribers, who pass them on to other groups.

Educational fern its were carried as follows: —That teaching of swimming be made compulsory in all schools, owing to the very large number of drowning fatalities; that boarding allowance be granted to country children attending high school in cases where they live too far away to travel daily; that bus transport of country children to secondary schools be subsidised as those privileged to go b.v train travel free; that the Government he urged to reinstate the National Scholarships or a system of bursaries to be awarded to suitable scholars in country districts. (In Japan SO per cent, of the taxes are spent on education.); that the first term holidays be held in June instead of in Alay; that dental treatment be given to school children on age, not on class, as at present, which penalises those who make rapid progress, also that pupils he not restricted to treatment beginning in the primer classes as this is a hardship on parents who move. The Government, it was stated, was doing its utmost to extend the dental service and thirty new nurses were being released. A Dominion competition was held by headquaJrters for prizes for the three competitors gaining the most neiv members. Airs AVhite, of Tauranga, iron first prize for securing 153 members, Airs Evans won second prize with 140 members and a third gained 60.

Aliss C. E. Connor (now Airs Norman Bing) was presented at the conference with a silver tea and coffee service and silver engraved tray from the organisation in recognition of her efficient work. Airs Bing relinquishes her position in .September.