WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22468, 11 July 1936, Page 23

WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY

TWO ORGANISATIONS AMALGAMATION ISSUE Well discussed in the- past, yet still full of interest to members of tlie Women's Division of tlto Farmers' Union and of the Women's Institutes, is the question of the amalgamation of the two organisations. The present conference of the division in Wellington had before it a number of remits on the subject, ami it was not surprising that reference was made to it by Mrs O". K. Wilson, of Pio Pio, in her presidential address at the conference. "1 must mention," she said, "the subject that has given rise to more controversy than it really warrants — the suggested amalgamation of our organisation with tlie Women's Institutes. This controversy is altogether premature. Wo have not, in fact, discussed a union of tlie bodies, but have only met to try if we could find a basis for possible amalgamation. The time for the discussion on tlie subject has not yet come. Wo have merely made a friendly gesture in that, direction and now await the response. If it does not come the subject, as far as we are concerned, drops. "But this 1 would like to say," she continued, "that those who are afraid that union with other country women would mean a desertion of the Farmers' Union or a weakening of our support of that body arc making a great mistake about our aims. On the contrary, the union would add considerably to the real strength of the work of the Farmers' Union, for we should have at least three times the membership, and, of course, we have no thought of a union with town women, whoso interests are not ours. Nor, I take it, would these town women care to join us. Thev would be absorbed in the Towns Women's Guild, and country women would be in one movement. You will all see that a body of country women must in the nature of things work hand in hand with a body of country men. Their desires, needs and problems are identical. Wo could not help working together. The fanners, too, seem to have lost sight of this point. Some meetings have passed flattering resolutions about.our work and support, forgetting what that work and that support might l)e if we were ;>O.OOO strong. A Puzzled Public "The public—all those who belong to neither of these two bodies —the Government, the departments, and officials of other organisations, are invariably at a loss to know why there should be two farm women's bodies working side by side," said Mrs. Wilson. "Indeed, those who have dealings with us often show considerable impatience witli what seems unnecessary overlapping. Now we ought to stand well with the public. Our work is prejudiced if we do not, so that 1 do hope that we shall always show a reasonable spirit toward this question, and if the movement comes to nothing, if there must remain two bodies, let it not be our narrowness, our selfishness, our want of vision, that keeps us from coming together. Let us keep a friendly attitude and an open mind." Before any action was, taken, said Mrs. Wilson, the members ought to reach practical unanimity Election of Officers A Press Association message from Wellington yesterday stated that a resolution was carried to the effect that housekeepers engaged by the Women's Division under its housekeeping scheme are to have their wages increased from 25s to 30s a week. Delegates adopted the motto "We serve." After the resolution was carried, Mrs. Drake, of Berwick, remarked: "I think your husbands will have something to say about it. They will want to know who you are going to serve." The election of officers resulted:— Dominion president, Mrs. C. K. Wilson, Pio Pio; vice-presidents, North Island, Mesdames J. C. Wickham (Wanganui), N. Adams (Clevodon) and D. Simpson (Marton), and, South Island, Mesdames J. F. Drake (Berwick), W. H. Ward (Lnmsden) and H. A. Nutt (Motukarara).