WORK FOR WOMEN.

Northern Advocate, 17 January 1920, Page 5

WORK FOR WOMEN.

BRITISH OVERSEA REPRESENTA^

TIVES,

DEPUTATION IN WHANGAREI,

A meeting was hold in the Commercial Hotel yesterday afternoon to meet tho Misses'F. M. Girdlcr and G. Watkin as representatives of the British Oversea .Settlement Mission. This work is being undertaken under the auspices neanx. of the Auckland executive of State for the Colonies. Ihe meeting was arranged by the Farmers' Union, and was preside:! over by Mi S. C. Jounncux, of the Auckland executive of the Union. His Worship the Mayor of Whangarei (Mr J. >S. Dent) was prosent, also Messrs H. Berridge, G. S. B. Morrison, Jns. A. MocKay, and A. E. Mnrwick.

WOMEN'S WAR WORK.

The ladies referred to the fact that during the war, women contributed greatly to the work-a-day world's effi- ■ ciency, and they were now seeking an outlet for their newly-found powors. There were 200,000 womcu organised for various branches of social service, and many were highly capable farm workers. These women had inquired of the British Government as to probabilities of work overseas. The Government had intimated that a r - free passage would be granted, but be- t fore sending any, information was 1 sought as to th i prospects and openings * available for women workers. Lord « \fiiner had approved, and a mission was appointed to visit Canada, New t Zealand and Australia. t INDUSTRIAL AND DOMESTIC 1 SERVICE. The deputation had made inquiries re t openings in the centres for domestic i and industrial workers, but their immediate mission in Whang3iei was to t inquire as to openings for form work. WOMEN LAND WORKERS. The point was particularly stressed that the women were not new to the work, but had actually made good in tho several branches of the work undertaken, the nature of which included milking, grooming, waggon work, gardening, motor tractor work, threshing, shepherding, and thatching, and in this they had proved thoroughly competent. Quite 60 per cent of the farmers in Great Britain desired to retain tho services of the women. It was with re- - gard to the remaining 40 per cent, that - openings were sought. j SHARE MILKING. ; Questions were asked a?d answered j re likelihood of service in share milk- ] ing. A fear was expressed as to whether the women would be able to undertake tho other heavier work in- , volved in farm life. Share milking did not always occupy the whole time of the. worker. It was thought that the farmer could possibly get other work done. There was the greatest demand for farm help in milking, and also in the home. Reference being made tf the almost unlimited hours of labour sometimes involved in farm work, the chairman said the work could and should be stipulated. The girl should not be at the command of both the fanner and i his wife. The hours of labour should be regulated. VALUE OF ORGANISATION, The lady visitors emphasised the value of the Farmers' Union as being the only means of reaching the women. The Union would also be necessary for ihe protection of the women. District representatives had been appointed in England, to whom girls could apply for guidance. This work could be undertaken in Now Zealand by a women's committee of tho Farmers' Union. Posi- J tively the better class of girls were | seeking farm work, and it was pro- j posed to send them in district* by twos, working at neighbouring farms. Mr I Jounneaux considered that there would be fine openings for as many girl landworkers as could be sent. He also stated that should the girls prove satisfactory, they would almost be treated as one of the family in the fanners' homos: but they must be adaptable and reliable, SOCIAL LIFE. A plea was put in for the need of recreative facilities, and iigh praise was accorded to the Women *s Institutes that had been established iv England, C.S. \., and Canada. There had made i-eimiry lite more pleasant and pennan- , ~i|.- |,c,Hsib]c. arid stopp-d rhe drift !o th,. i(,ivi!>. This nod' I'e'ind hearty and general acceptance, a a ' ii was felt thai ia tins respect the women's seclion of the Farmers' Union would do much eilicient service.