BUSH HOUSEKEEPING

Northland Age, Volume II, Issue 35, 3 September 1930, Page 4

BUSH HOUSEKEEPING

AN EXAMPLE OF PRACTICAL SYMPATHY (Extract from New Zealand Free La ice) Bush housekeeping with wh ch scheme is associated one for a certain amount of bush-nursing is the outstanding endeavour of the Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which has increased its strength by some 1700 members during the past year. It held its fifth annual conference, 150 delegates strong and under the renewed presidency of Mrs. C. C. Jackson (Masterton), in Wellington last week, when the problems confronting women on the lands received a three days’ ventilation in debate.

In its bush-housekeeping organisation the division has some 40 capable women on its books These are paid in accordance with the length of time they have served. Three are in receipt of no less than £2 lOs a week and as they are the most capable they are usually sent to the poorest and most difficult cases necessitating the payment by the Division of part or even all of their remuneration.

’“Many a poor wife on a lonely farm,” said Mrs. Archie Clarke (Provincial President, Wairarapa) to the" New Zealand Free Lance,” “has no recreation from one year’s end to another. She works hard from morning till night year in year out, attending a family, a husband, sometimes, a couple of men around the place, and doing, may be, a bit of the farm work as well. In time, though she may not be suffering from a specific disease, she becomes so run down that she cannot carry on. Then as well as in cases of illness, the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union offers facilities for giving that woman a rest.” The following letter has been received by the Kaitaia branch of the W.D.F.U.: — Dear Madam, The N.Z. Farmers’ Union has decided to issue an official paper, provided that 10,000 subscribers 10,000 subscribers at One Pound each can be secured. As this paper will also be the otneial organ of the Women’s Division, your Branch is respect;gf fully asked to canvas for mem* bers. 2/6 per member will be paid to Branches of the Division by the N.Z. Farmers’ should the requisite number of subscribers be obtained. lam making this appeal to Branches in the hope that their exertions will considerably add to the number of subscribers, for 1 feel sure that a paper is urgently required to place the doings of our Division belore the farming community and the general public. Hoping that excuse will atlendyour endeavours. Yours sincerely, H. Mabel Jackson, Dominion President. .