Bush Nurse And Housekeepers AUXILIARY MEETING.

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7061, 8 November 1929, Page 15

Bush Nurse And Housekeepers

AUXILIARY MEETING.

Mrs. C. C. Jackson, Dominion president of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, presided at the Bush Nurse and Housekeepers’ Auxiliary meeting, which was hold in Palmerston North yesterday afternoon. Members present were Mesdames Wickham (Dominion vice-president), of Wanganui; Mrs. G. Smith (Dominion secretary), of Wellington; MacGregor, advisory member; Wheeler (Hunterville), Stevens (Marton), (Marton), D. Crewe (Pahiatua), Taylor (Feilding), Bickncll (Taihape), Gilbert, Piper (Pahiatua), Carson (Foilding), Willis (Marton), Dagg (Ihuraua), Day (Pahiatua), Syme (Hawera), Beatson (Foilding), McCorkindalo (Foilding), Simpson (Dominion treasurer, of Marton), Misses Poison (advisory board, Wanganui), Jordan . (Wanganui). Apologies for absence were sent from Mesdajpes Wiggins and Tait (Greytown) Steveps and Young (Stratford), Cocker, Eltham, Sutherland (Manaia), Carter (Masterton), McLean (Fordell), Andrews (Tinui), McFarlane (Waverley) and Burton (Morrisville).

Palmerston North was the meeting place for those ladies, who represented their various branches of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union in their capacity of presidents and vicepresidents An hour was spent in reading correspondence and discussing complaints versus employer and housekeeper.

The members of the Division desired that harmony should be maintained as much as possible throughout the BushhoUSekeeper’s term o£ ; :engagement, and that her interests must be looked after, in as much as that of the employer. Forty-five housekeepers' weire employed by headquarters and were’stationed in all the provinces where -■ there were branches of the division."'","

All, or any complaints.-of either party should be lodged with tho.-local branch Secretary, who would communicate to head office, and the matter ..would bo thofotlghly gone into. {„> 4.

Maternity Nurses.

Letters were read from women living in an isolated area, where it was found impossible at ■ times to procure a maternity nurso or help, especially if there were other children to be attended to.

In ono instance, the mother found it an impossibility to obtain a. nurse to see her over her illness and yet she found’ it' impossible to leave the homo and children in the care of anyone save Maori women, who had had no oxpefienee of housework or illness in the white woman’s home.

A resolution was passed that all branches’ were at liberty ’to., e.ngago emergency maternity nufses, by applying to headquarters, all applications to be sent through branch to. tho Dominion’secretary, Mrs. G, Smith; D.I.C. buildings, Wellington. ' -

As far as tho Women’s Division of the Farmers' Union was concerned, mothers living in isolated aroas need have no fear, of not being able to get adequate help from that source. All it asks is that the help it sends is given every possible facility, in the way of making things as easy and as pleasant as possible. There is still a large demand for housekeepers but several capable housekeepers have expressed their willingness to join up with the Division in the near future, so that it is hoped that all applications of the employers will be filled at an early date. The question arose as to what ’ constituted a housekeeper’s duty, a complaint having been sent in recently, that an employer had insisted that all the spring; cloaning be .done. Housekeepers ‘ were not char-women, stated the committee, and were sent to homes, only when help was sincerely needed to help the mother out of a difficulty, and her absence from home. As far as it was possible it was seen that every woman employed by the division bore an irreproachable character. The very best of women only, wore employed, and it was left to tho employer to see that they got a fair deal.

Amended rules are now in the hands of the printer and they will bo forwarded to all branches at an early date.

At the conclusion of the meeting the president was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. ,