WOMEN’S REST HOME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 70, 20 February 1939, Page 11

WOMEN’S REST HOME.

Mrs Wickham was presented with a IxDuquet by members of the Shannon branch of the W.D.F.U. Several apologies for absence were received, amongst them being one from Lady Galway, and also Hon. P. Fraser and Hon. W. Lee Martin. Mrs Wickham expressed regret that Mrs W. J. Poison was unable to be present through illness.

Those to whom invitations had been extended to be present included.: —Mr and Mrs A. E. Dlansiord (Mayor and Mayoress of Palmerston North), Mrs H. Paterson (Pahiatua), president of the National Council of Women), Professor and Mrs G. S. Peren (Massey College), Miss L. M. Banks (Palmerston North Hospital), Mr H. J. MeLeavey (president of the Manawatu branch of the Farmers’ Union) and Mrs MeLeavey, Mr and Mrs T. R. Lees, Major Hume, Mr and Mrs A. Sutherland, Mrs W. J. Moore (Wairarapa), Miss C. Warburton, who has been associated with Flock House, Mr E. Newman (chairman of the trustees of Flock House), Miss Kinross (Turakina Maori Girls’ College). Miss D. Wright (Awapuni Home), Dir and Mrs Barnhill, Miss E. Aitken (Crippled Children’s Society), Miss Hazel Johnson (Sarah Anne Rhodes Fellow) Dir and Mrs J. A. Nash, Mr N. Campbell (Farmers’ Union), Mrs C. K. Wilson (Pio Pio), the president of the North Wellington Federation of Women’s Institutes (Miss Grant), and Mrs E. 0. Bond.

Mrs Paterson, in congratulating the Women’s Division on behalf of the National Council of Women, said that there was great joy in feeling that the heavy burden of the country women was being relieved, and she knew the Women’s Division would receive great comfort from the knowledge that they were helping to lighten the load by the relief the rest home would give. A VALUABLE ORGANISATION. Mr Mansford said the members must be very proud to see such a large gathering. It gave him great pleasure to be present, as the Women’s Division had done wonders in the few weeks at their disposal in putting the place in order. What better and more Christian motive could they have than making a rest home for tired mothers? lie asked. It was a happy augury that the home should i>o opened on the first day of National Fitness Week. The home would promote the well-being of mothers and country women.

Mrs Mansford congratulated the Women’s Division on the wonderful work they had accomplished. She considered the division to be one of the greatest and most valuable organisations in New Zealand, because it assisted the country women, who wero worthy of every help they could get, and she hoped there would soon be many more such rest homes.

Miss Grant conveyed the congratulations of the Women’s Institutes. Mrs C. K. Wilson also congratulated the Women’s Division and the farmers who. she said, supplied the money for the women to spend on the home. Mrs MeLeavey apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr MeLeavey and conveyed the congratulations and good wishes of the Farmers’ Union. GOOD DEEDS REMEMBERED.

Dir T. R. Lees, managing trustee of the Flock House Fund, said it was a great delight to the Flock House trustees to be able to give the home. “Tlie trustees are exceedingly pleased at being able to place this property at the disposal of the Women’s Division, and to thus assist the division to consummate their aims to provide a rest home for convalescent farmers’ wives and daughters,” proceeded Dir Lees. “The trustees are specially glad that they are able in this way to show their gratitude to the Women’s Division for their invaluable help to the Seamen’s Fund during the whole time that Flock House Station and Girls’ Flock House were-operating, by the members taking an interest in the Flock House boys and girls who wore in employment on farms and stations, mothering them, and helping them to make good friends in the districts in which they were placed.” The members of the Women’s Divi sion had taken these hoys and girls to their hearts and homes and had only to he called on to assist any of them in their districts, Dtr Lees concluded. Professor G. S. Peren congratulated the Women’s Division on their latest magnificent work. It must have involved a tremendous amount, of staff work, he said. Dlassey College had a definite link with the Women’s Division through the home science course for young women, and was greatly interested in the country woman. Several members had told him that last

, OPENING CEREMONY. ' AMBITION REALISED. [ An auspicious occasion for the AA'o- ' men’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, on Saturday, was the official opening of “Kaianga Moe,” which marked a homo at Awnpuni, which marked a further stage in the history nf the property formerly known as Girls’ Flock House. Many visitors were present, including members of the Women's Division from all parts of the country, members of the Farmers’ Union, the trustees of the New Zealand Kheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund, and representatives of kindred organisations. Airs J. C. Wickham (Dominion president of the W.D.F.U.), in extending a welcome to the visitors, said it gave her great pleasure to see so many people present. It was a proud and happy day for the W.D.F.U. The history of Flock House was too well known to need repetition, she added. Girls’ Flock House was no longer needed as a home for seamen’s daughters, and had been given as a rest home. It should be of great service to country women. Times without number serious illness could be avoided by giving mothers rest in such a home, thus preserving their lives ' longer. “Kaianga Aloe” was the fulfilment of a dream. Airs Wickham said that the AVomen’s Division owed the deepest gratitude to al those who had worked so hard to make this dream come true. Nearly all the branches had contributed special j gilts which the visitors would sec when i they inspected the house. They were i particularly grateful to Airs AV. J. j Moore, of Atakuri, who had generously I given a radio set and a chiming clock in memory of her late husband. There had been many other special gifts, and the scheme had received wholehearted support from 'all the members of the AVomen’s Division. The home was a wonderful achievement in the real spirit of the AV.D.F.U.—that spirit which inspired the members with a desire to serve others rather than themselves. Airs AVickhain thought that it was particularly happy that the beautiful home had fallen into their hands in the Centennial Year, as it was a splendid monument to the pioneer women, who would not begrudge their successors this relief from the hardships which they themselves had had to bear.

year’s course had started a little late in the season, and he hoped that it would be possible to start earlier this year. Last year the course had been most successful, and ho was already receiving numerous inquiries about this year’s.. Dlrs Wickham said tho Women’s Division owed a debt of gratitude to Professor Peren for his work and interest in country girls. Mrs Wickham then asked Mrs C. C. Jackson (Dominion treasurer) to speak. Dlrs Jackson had worked very shard to bring the home into being, she said.

j Dfrs Jackson said it was a great oc--1 casion to sec the homo opened. She i hoped it would prove to be the first of I a series of such homes. A deep debt 'of gratitude was due to the trustees of the Flock House Fund for their wonderful gift, which had helped the division to achieve a long-standing ideal. Mr Newman then performed the opening ceremony and in the course of his remarks gave some very interesting details of the success of Flock House trainees. (These remarks are reported in another column.) WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTES. Dir J. A. Nash, speaking on behalf of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, sa.id it was a great pleasure to see the home opened for a new purpose. A great work had been done by the trustees, and they should be congratulated on handing over the home for such a specific purposes as that now being emlxarked upon. Nobody was more competent to manage the home than the W.D.F.U. They would always find the Hospital Board willing to assist them. A recent Parliamentary report had stated that Palmerston North had one of the finest district nursing schemes in the Dominion. The district nurses were always ready to be called upon, so that their services would lx? available to tho country women who came to the rest home. Dir Nash paid a warm tribute to the work of Dlrs W. F. Field (secretary of the home committee), and Dlrs E. B. Jennings (secretary of the Palmerston North branch of the Women's Division) ; they were always together, engaged oil some good work for their fellow citizens. This tribute was received with much applause. Mrs Wickham also spoke very highly of Dfrs Field who, she said, had laboured early and late oil behalf of the home. The Palmerston North branch had done excellent work and Dlrs Field, “had been splendid.” Oil behalf of the executive, Dlrs Wickham presented a handsome leather bag to Dlrs Field, who briefly returned thanks, saying that the opening of the home was ample reward for her labours. and she honed to continue working for it in the future.

Cheers were given for Dir Newman and the Flock House Trustees, and the guests were then entertained at afternoon tea on the lawn by the Women’s Division.

Tlip following telegram was received from Mrs W. J. Poison, one of the founders and first president of the DVomen’s Division of the Farmers’ Union.—“ Cheers, loud cheers! Regret unable to he with you to-day. Dlav ‘Kaianga Dloc’ always radiate hope, health and happiness.”