W.D.F.U., PIO PIO

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3442, 12 March 1932, Page 4

W.D.F.U., PIO PIO

(To the Editor.) Sir, —May I be permitted to reply to “Courtesy’s” letter in last Saturday’s Chronicle, which is not only misleading to the public but a gross libel on the W.D.FAJ.. It happened to be Mrs. Charlie Jackson’s and my turn to take charge of the exchange mart last sale day at Pio Pio on belibel on the W.D.F.U. It happened t ed that the ladies of the Presbyterian Guild also held a produce sale in the Town Hall. For “Courtesy’s” benefit, let me state that at the exchange mart any member of the public is entitled to bring anything for sale or exchange, a commission of Id. being ■ charged on all goods valued at 6d. and upwards to Is., so that on any article sold for 2s. 6d. there would be commission payable of 3d. by members of the W.D.F.U. and double, i.e. 2d. in the shilling, by non-mem-bers, as everyone in the district, knows. Further, on this particular day, careful enquiry was made from the secretary of the Presbyterian Guild to find. out if the exchange mart would interfere with them, and we were assured that it would not do so, but on the contrary would help them because the money received at the exchange would probably be spent at the Presbyterian sale. This. turned out to be the case. “Courtesy”/ unblushingly states that the W.D.F.U. has. not justified its existence. That this is contrary to fact, is borne out by the Rest Room building containing the Plunket Room and conveniences, including a hot water urn; Until the W.D.F.U. was established there was no place for women to rest or leave their parcels; now there is every convenience, and every. sale day the Plunket nui’se comes from Te Kuiti, attends there to interview mothers and their babies, a boon which is evidently appreciated by the large attendance of mothers. The Rest Room is open from early morning till dark. In the evening it is frequently used for public meetings at a very small. charge. If “Courtesy” wishes to see an example of good feeling and community spirit exemplified, she should join up, and give her help instead of criticism to our good work, of which she has evidently neither known nor done her share. Much other good work has been quietly carried out to which I need not refer, because enough has been said to prove that so far as the women are concerned the W.D.F.U. undoubtedly is the hub of the district, with every prospect of increased usefulness and benefit to all. —I am, etc., EVELYN CAYLEY-ALEXANDER.