W.D.F.U. CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 194, 17 July 1937, Page 12

W.D.F.U. CONFERENCE.

DISCUSSION OF REMITS. Yesterday morning marked the conclusion of the conference of the 'Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union in Wellington, the early part of the morning being taken tpi with the election of further officers, and later with a discussion on late remits.

Mrs Hibbard (Taihape), and Mrs Poison (Wanganui) were re-elected to the advisory bush nurse and housekeeper auxiliary; and to the finance committee the following were elected : Mrs Mahieson, Mrs McNeil, Mrs Preshaw (all of Wellington); Mrs Hawthorn (Upper Hutt); Pan-Pacific, Mrs Jackson; war relief, Mrs Lundius; Red Cross, Mrs Angus. Co-ordinating committee:' Mesdames Drake, Barrel - and Noel Adams, with another member to be elected from the advisory board.

A remit, “That tlie W.D.E.U. support a policy of ordered immigration of selected and trained British immigrants on a quid pro quo basis with Great Britain as outlined by the Empire Immigration Societies of Great Britain,” was carried after considerable discussion, as was also a remit that in future no late remits would be received from country branches after a given date. Another remit asked : “That. the Government expand their scheme of interest-free money to farmers to build houses for farm workers, to bo paid for over a term of years by a sinking fund at 4 to 5 per cent.; the first reason for so doing being to widen the scope of available married labour for farmers; and the second, for relieving the farmers’ wives of a great deal of drudgery in having to provide for so I many farm workers.” This was carried unanimously, as also were two further remits asking the Government to subsidise the building of cottages on farms and in arranging for the erection oil farms of cottages for married employees. An animated discussion preceded tlie passing of a remit stating “That since the average family in New Zealand is 1.4 children, a basic wage providing for the needs of a man, liis wife and three children is inequitable, and a, more equitable arrangement could be | made bv allotting a basic wage pro-j viding for a man, his wife, and add-1 ing thereafter an allowance for each i child as its arrives.” It was also | agreed to urge the Government to; make some effort to reduce the overhead costs in the distribution of milk to the public in cities. I EQUALITY OF STATUS. ! “That we consider that where a woman is the breadwinner she should have the same right as a man in sharing any advantages of _ legislation,” provoked much discussion, and was finally carried unanimously. j Remarking that the failure of New Zealand to keep her best brains in the country was largely the fault of her had grading system, Mrs __ Barrer pointed out that tlie loss to New Zealand of some of her cleverest men ant. women through offering them no scope for their activities was of very grave importance. A remit dealing with this subject, “That we deplore the fact that, in the past, Governments which have been pleased for New Zealand students to accept Rhodes Scholarships have failed to do their part ill the scheme of Cecil Rhodes by making use of these young men on their re-, turn to New Zealand,” was unanini-, ouslv carried. “That in view of the fact that the I profits made by armament firms are an inducement to them to welcome war as a means of making further profits, we consider the manufacture of armaments should be ia Government undertaking, was a remit carried with a majority consent; and vet another, brought before the W.D.F.U. by the national council, “That this conference expresses its firm belief that legislation should bo introduced to provide for tho training and employment of suitable women as police officers, and asks that a letter be sent to the Munster of Justice affirming this,” was earned unanimously. . c One which provoked a great deal ot discussion urged that the hours of work for nurses who are training he modified to enable them to devote more time to their studies. It was pointed out that nurses very often have to take much of their leisure time to attend lectures, instead of being able to enjoy much-needed rest or recreation in the open air. The remit was carried. “That as the Government now controls both railway and bus, we ask that children be permitted to travel by bus instead of having to wait hours for a train, arriving home after dark in winter,” was a remit which, as the president pointed out, was almost of purely local interest to a Southland branch, but for which it was felt desirable to have the support of the con-

ferencc. It was carried with a majority vote. At the conclusion of the ronference bouquets were presented to Mrs Drake (the newly-elected Dominion president), Mrs Wickham, and Mrs C. K. Wilson, in appreciation of the work they have done in connection with the W.D.E.U. Mrs Drake concluded with a short speech in which she thanked all members for their support, and expressed her appreciation of the good work done by former officers.