W.D.F.U. CONFERENCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1938, Page 4

W.D.F.U. CONFERENCE.

RULES FOR MEMBERSHIP ALTERED. TRAINING OF GIRLS FOR HOUSEWORK. (By Telegraph—Press association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A change of some consequence in the rules of the Women's Division of the N.Z. Farmers' Union opens full membership for all women living in country districts and not only those connected with the land. The old rule cut out useful people, such as the wives of schoolmasters and storekeepers. The difficulty of obtaining competent help for the division’s nurse and housekeepers’ scheme providing help to country homos in-cases of illness, and trouble, was brought before the meeting. One suggestion was that girls from English orphanages be brought out as home workers. Another was that girls from Central Europe be invited.

Hr. Strong, of Otago University, pointed out that the solfition lay with New Zealand women themselves. New Zealand girls should Ire trained in homecraft and the work made as attractive as other work. A suggestion was made that such training should be compulsory. Tile division is wholeheartedly behind the Minister of Health in his schemes for training Maori girls for ■work among their own people. it was suggested that a line centennial memorial from the women of New Zealand would be the establishment of a hospital for Maori women, staffed bv Maori nurses.