WOMEN’S DIVISION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 6, 6 December 1930, Page 6

WOMEN’S DIVISION

NURSING AND HOUSEKEEPING AUXILIARY. The Bush Nursing and Housekeeping Auxiliary of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union met in Palmerston North yesterday, Mrs C. C. Jackson, Dominion president, being m the. chair. There were present: Mrs J. G. Wickham (Wanganui), Dominion vicepresident, Mrs M. McCorkmdale (Feilding), Dominion vice : president), Mrs E. Dagg (Mauriceville), Miss Simpson (Marton), Mrs J. Shaw (PalMmW n Gilbert' (Pahiatua),' mTw*F. Miss H. E. Elmslie and Mrs Macfarlane (Waverley), .Mrs F. R. Wright and Mrs M. Gornnge (Levin), A. muSrMrs a T d E. 1 Craine (Feilding), (MStertU Mm Howell (Palmerston North), Mrs Weston (Hunterville), Mrs Maunsell (Toko), Miss Heckler (Mauriceville), Miss Poison and Miss Gibson (Wanganui) and Mrs Tate (Greytown). K Mrs Wickham reported that Mrs Burrell, one of the housekeepers, had been appointed matron of the Friends School, Wanganui; the Wanganui branch had written congratulating her on her appointment and thanking her for her work for the division. Reductions made to employers ot housekeepers by Awaken, v\ aipukurau, Feilding, Bulls, Taufanga. Manaia, Dipton, Broadwood and Mofrinsville branches were confirmed. Appeals for help in necessitous cases were dealt with. The action of the Dominion president and secretary and two advisory members of the auxiliary in arranging for a mother who had had a nervous breakdown through privation to enter a hospital for treatment was endorsed. With regard to a second case from North Auckland it was agreed that further information be sought as to the best way of helping. A recommendation from the Wairarapa provincial executive in respect of altering the application form occasioned considerable discussion, in the course of which it was shown that the particular reference had caused confusion. Finally, the. recommendation was withdrawn and it was resolved, to recommend to the executive meeting in January that in future reference to the scale of charges be deleted from the application form and the words “fees .on application” be inserted. The Feilding members asked to be excused from the meeting at this stage, Airs McCorkindals explaining that the Feilding branch was that day making an effort to raise funds to assist the “community chest.” She conveyed the season’s, greetings to the meeting before retiring. A request from the Southland provincial executive for an increase in the emergency housekeeper’s salary was agreed to. A letter from the Morrinsville branch regarding a in the salary of housekeepers was considered. The president said it was rather early to speak of reducing salaries yet, although she hinted that the division .would have to face the question in the I near future. The letter was received, it being decided to bring the matter up for consideration at the executive meeting. REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES.

The Secretary submitted, the following report:—“During the past two months applications for housekeepers hare been very numerous, 66 housekeepers being employed at present, an increase of 13 since the last report on October 21, as follows: Hawke’s Bay 2, Bay of Plenty 4, South Auckland r 4, Wellington Central 13, North 4, Wellington Central 13, North 4, Wairarapa executive 9, Palmerston North 1, Pio Pio 1, Levin 1. North Canterbury 1, South Canterbury 2, Blenheim 1, Otago 4, Southland 3;' total 66. _ One maternity nurse is employed in the Bay of Islands.” The half yearly financial report stated: The Government has again made the division a grant of £l5O for travelling expenses for this year, which gives the division £75 for six months. On making up the half-yearly statement of accounts it is found that the division have spent £77 5s 3d, and only £8 15s 9d has been, refunded by employers; Prom this it will be seen that, with the exception of £6, the Government allowance for the past half-year has been expended. The increase in travelling expenses is duo to the fact that the division is now sending housekeepers further afield, and the expenses are consequently higher. The salaries of three visiting housekeepers for six months amounted to £lB4 11s lOd; increase to emergency housekeepers receiving 35s and £2 per week, £2B 5s 4d; amount paid on emergency housekeepers’ salaries, £169 7s 7d; amount paid for maternity nurses, £52 Is; total, £434 5s 9d. Amounts refunded were: Employers refund for visiting housekeepers, £lO3 14s 9d; emergency housekeepers, £44 5s Id; total, £147 19s lOd. This means that the division has actually paid out £286 5s lid for housekeepers’ salaries during the past six months. The amount which is always owing on visiting housekeepers’ salaries, in this case amounting to £74, and also the amount of £2B 6s 4d increase to those having given over one year’s continuous service, which leaves the actual amount paid out to help, necessitous cases £lB4 Os 7d, must be taken into

account. The secretary mentioned that she had had as many as ten applications in one day for housekeepers to be placed at a moment’s notice. Discussing the difficult problem of the difference between payments made by employers and housekeepers’ salaries the treasurer urged the neces. ily for branch advisory members finding out what people could pay. It was being borne out more and more that the division was expected to supply housekeepers at a lower rate than was ruling Mrs Jackson endorsed Mrs Simpson’s remarks <and said she was afraid the division was sometimes exploited. Rulings were asked in various circumstances and it was stressed that every case should be treated on its merits. Another point stressed was the necessity for giving longer notice when making applications for this service. . 1 A letter was read from a lady, in the far north, expressing appreciation for help received from the division in a' difficult period. 1 With regard to 1 the consideration and amendment of rules it was de-cide-d that branches be asked to send in writing the particular alterations required. ■ ~, _ Before the meeting closed Mrs Dagg. on behalf of the members, conveyed the season’s greetings to Airs Jackson and asked her acceptance . of. a small Christmas gift in appreciation of her work from the members of the aU Mrs a Jackson reciprocated the good wishes and expressed her thanks for the gift.