W.D.F.U.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 November 1937, Page 9

W.D.F.U.

NELSON PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE | VISIT OF DOMINION PRESIDENT A special meeting of the Nelson pro-J vincial executive of the Women’s Divis- j ion of the Farmers’ Union was held on ! the occasion of the visit of Mrs J.' Drake, Dominion President. Mrs J. | Hildyard was in the chair and formal- i ly welcomed Mrs Drake to the execu- j live. Delegates were present from the! following branches: Dovedale, Mapua, Motupiko, Moutere, Redwood’s Valley, Richmond, Stanley Brook, Stoke. Tas-man-Mariri. Umukuri-Brooklyn, Waka- j puaka, Wakefield-Spring Grove, Wai-1 mea and Waimea West. Apologies j were received from Mrs Beuke (Mou- 1 tore); Mrs Hercus (Tasman); Mrs j Fowler (Dovedale); Mesdames Kerr and Murcott (Waimea); Mesdames Wilkinson and Sparks (Riwaka) and the Motueka delegates. j The W.D.F.U. calendars for 1938 were | on sale. The price of these was fixed j at 9d and supplies were available for j branches. !

Mrs Drake then spoke to delegates. on matters concerning the conducting j of meetings and compared the system 1 adopted in the organisation of the; Otago Provincial executive which is' unique, in that it has a paid secretary,! at 5s a year subscription, and all busi- j ness is conducted by a small committee! which meets quarterly, while the pro-j vincial council at which all branches! are represented meets annually. In! other executives the full representa- j live meeting is held quarterly and the! committee meets only when special i urgent business demands attention be-1 tween meetings. i Mrs Drake has previous to her visit j ganisation urging the need for all mem-I bers to have duties and thus keep the | interest general. Mllrs Drake has previous to her visit to Nelson toured the North Island executives, and expressed her pleasure at including Nelson in her itinerary. Mrs Hildyard thanked Mrs Drake for her helpful talk. After luncheon, delegates re-assemb-led and Mrs Drake was entertained by the Provincial Executive to afternoon tea. Mrs Hildyard. provincial president, assisted by Mesdames Corder, Forsyth and Robinson assisted by the executive committee acted as hostesses for the afternoon. A large number of W.D. members were present as well as representatives from other women’s j organisations. Among those present j were Mrs Page (Mayoress and President of the Townswomen's Guild), Mrs Atmore, Mrs Chaytor, organiser of the Women’s Institutes, Mrs Robinson, of the Women’s Club, Miss Gray, Com- j missioner of the Girl Guides, Miss j Tomlinson, of the Red Cross Society. | and Mrs T. H. Robinson. Apologies j were received from the Mayor, Miss j Stewart, Nelson Girls’ College, Mrs \ Hilliard, President of the Mother's Union, Miss Cooke, W.C.T.U., Mr T. H. Robinson and Mr and Mrs R. C. T. Raine. Short speeches were made by Mrs Atmore, Mrs Chaytor, Mrs Robinson,! Mrs Forsyth and Mrs E. J. Taplin. j Mrs Drake who was presented with a i bouquet made by one of the Wakapuaka members thanked all present for the kindly welcome she had had in Nelson. Her talk was of woman's place in the.home and of the responsib- j ility of a woman in guiding and caring j for her family both physically and 1 1 morally. The Dominion president i' spoke of the busy lot of the country j: woman and the amazing number of j i duties that fell to her. The Women’s ’ Division and other women’s organis- ( ations filled a great need in the lives of these busy women, both in a social sense and in one of mental development in such matters as home planning, diet, etc. ! Mrs Hildyard on behalf of all present ' expressed thanks and appreciation to Mrs Drake.