W.D.F.U.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1442, 17 July 1933, Page 2

W.D.F.U.

THE DOMINION CONFERENCE.

In her presidential address at the . annual conference of the Women’s Division of .the New Zealand Farmers’ Union held in Wellington last week, Mrs. C. C. Jackson said the activities of the organisation had taken the practical form of sending out housekeepers, nurses, junior housekeepers and sewing women into country homes, the establishment of convalescent homes and rest homes in country towns, home markets, gifts of layettes for babies, clothes and blankets for those in , need, and valuable assistance to other causes. This Community Chest. The bush nurse and housekeeper ' auxiliary work had been of immense value to country women. The comj munity chest had been availed of in | many cases, and in that the organj isation had been pleased to be of J assistance to those who had been in I need of it. Donations to the commumty chest during the year amounted to £575, and £470 was paid out in subsidising wages of nurses and housekeepers. Welfare Work. “ The welfare and social work done by members,” said the president, “ has been very considerable in their own particular localities, and approximately £6OO has been spent by branches in this manner; mothers have been taken from hospitals into members’ homes to make good recovery before travelling to their own homes; children suffering from malnutrition in towns have been guests on farms; mothers’ expenses have been paid for a holiday in another locality; clothes, blankets, bedding, food, have been distributed, not forgetting books and papers sent to isolated members. “ Branch members have sometimes taken charge of an entire family, sending mother to hospital, taking the children into their own homes, and feeding and clothing them. Beside the community work done by headquarters, all '-this work ' ! and money must be taken into account when, speaking of the welfare work of the division.” Tribute From Mrs. Coates. J! ‘ Speaking as a countrywoman to countrywomen, Mrs. J. G. .Coates, in opening the conference, said the amazing growth of the division j showed what a tremendous need there must have been for such an > organisation. I