W.D.F.U. CONFERENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 July 1941, Page 4

W.D.F.U. CONFERENCE

OPENED BY LADY NEWALL. “The countrywomen are the true home-makers of .Sew Zealand.” said Her Excellency Lady Newall when declaring tlie annual conlerence ol the 'Women’s i>ivision of the Farmers’ Lnion open at Wellington. Lady Newall pra.sed the line work of the division s housekeepers and said they were practising a true way of patriotism. The president (Mrs N. Adams) had previously asked Lady Newall to tell the gathering something of the countrywomen of England and Her Excellency described some of the conditions they were facing as a result ol the war. Not only were farmers’ wives faced with rationing, but most of them were also b lleting children or whole families and sometimes soldiers. They had to plan carefully to meet all the extra work and responsibility, and cheerfully put up with difficulties. She praised the work of the land girls and said that all these changes in the country wero bringing about more tolerance and true friendliness among the people of England. They were not lacing the war with courage alone, but fortitude, which was courage over a Jong period, and which tne women liavo in abundance.

Mrs P. Eraser, wife of the Prime Minister, said that the conference was very important, both nationally and internationally. What ”2.000 members said and thought was of national importance, and conferences of this nature were internationally important because the highest percentage of the world's population still lived oil the land. Mrs 'Wilson, a former president, presented Lady Newall with a copy of “Brave Days,” the story of pioneer women.

Earlier in the day a meeting of the Bush Nurse and Housekeeper Auxiliary in connection with the conference was held. One of the remits to be discussed later and to which reference was made suggests that the whole scheme be reorganised, in view ol the difficulty of securing suitable housekeepers. Airs J. C. Wickham, a formcr president, spoke of the “missionary spirit” of the early bush nurses and housekeepers. A remit from the Thames A alley

provincial executive that, owing to the acute shortage of suitable housekeepers, women must have been members of the division lor six months before being granted the help of a housekeeper was turned down after a long discussion. It was decided that, after two years’ service, the housekeepers bo granted a bonus of £5. Headquarters are in future to be responsible for the collection of unpaid fees for housekeepers’ services. A remit that, considering the maternity benefits now available, payments from the community chest for housekeepers a lor such cases bo limited to 5s a week | except in exceptional cases was held - over. It was pointed out that girls I from the towns could not use the school buses on return trips, and it was stated that if this were allowed many such girls would work in the country. The subject is to bo taken up with the Alinister of Transport. A suggestion I was brought forward from the Central Taranaki provincial executive suggesting that, following the war, efforts be made to secure mobile canteens as living quarters for' housekeepers going into the backblocks for short periods. The matter was not put to the vote. ENCOURAGING REPORTS. 'flic keynote of Ibn ronort of the * dent, presented on Thursday t was a cal! for renewed determination by ineinheis iu <•■> their bit for the war effort, “ever unitedly, with courage, lose to man and trust in God.” From branch and provincial reports supplied, (he Dominion secretary (Mrs A. ]i. Smith) presented a comprehensive resume detailing ihc progress made and the activities undertaken. There were now 562 senior branches and 18 junior branches with a total membership of 19.147. Dealing with the patriotic and philanthropic aetivitiis. it uas staled that a vast amount of work hud been accomplished. Apart from contributions for W.D.F.U. funds, branches had gihcu .'12991 to outside appeals. This did not include the money given to the W.V). •Spitfire Fund. total of 1023 housekeeping (ngagcincntri were filled throughout the Dominion for the year. Guests hail gone lo the W.D.F.U. rest homo from as far couth as Invercargill, arid as far north as Gisborne, during the year. Mrs M. I*. Field (Palmerston North) said in her report. There had been a total of 84 guests, a number being sent by doctors to convalt eecnco or to rest before hospital treatment. Matty medical men considered the home an ideal place and grateful visitors had sent a variety of useful gifts in return for the care received while there. Airs Adams was elected Dominion president for the third successive year, and the new Dominion treasurer is Airs 11. llol.eavoy (Alanawatu), who succeeds Alts C. U. Jackson. Airs Jackson received a presentation from the members in recognition of her faithful service for many yours. Vice-presidents are: Alesdatr.es C. K. Wilson (Pio Pin), W. 11. Lane (Kaeo), G. I.amplough (Stratford), W. 11. Elliott (Otago), B. E. Evans (Alaingnti), and W. 11. Orr (Southland). Advisory board : Alesdames F. Rvlturn (South Auckland). J. 11. Joll (Hastings), E. R. Black (Gisborne), 11. A. Nutt (Canterbury), J. U Haldane (Golden Bay), N. Alaclntosh (Invercat gill). Finance committee: Alcsdames T. B. McNeil (Wellington), E. S. Milno (Lower Ilult), Preshan (Wellington) and W. E. Field (Palmerston North). The unfair allocation of petrol to backblock settlors was discussed, and it was decided to draw the attention of tbe authorities lo the fact that settlers living many miles distant ■ from transport facilities were only allowed as much jietrol as town dwellers. Airs AleLoavey quoted the case of a youth working at a sawmill uho lived 33 miles from the local doctors. He wanted to enlist, but Lac] to have treatment for variccso veins before he would be accepted. lie was so keen to join up that ho decided lo have the treatment at ltis own expense, He was refuse-1 a petrol allowance to take him to the doctors, so he cycled there. That, ho said, he found easy, but “it was pretty hard cycling back after the injections.” This was one of many instances cf hardship caused by the existing regulations.’ A discussion was held on the irenlmcnl of sick and wounded soldiers on their return to New Zealand. Airs Adams said that the W.D.F.U. was behind the R.S.A. in all it was doing for returned men. The establishment of an international police force after the Mar to lender warlike aggression impossible in future and so save the children front the horrons of another war, M-as the subject of an address by a delegate, who supported a lemit bogging the Government to do all in its power to seo that such a force Mas established. The fact that a child of seven can operate his own post office savings account M’us placed before tlio conference, and it Mas urged (hat the matter bo brought before the authorities with a- view to having the ago raised to 16 years.