WOMEN’S PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23829, 8 June 1939, Page 6

WOMEN’S PARLIAMENT

ANNUAL W.D.F.U. CONFERENCE • . ■ . - -■ MRS W. ANNAN ELECTED PRESIDENT ACTIVITIES OF THE PAST YEAR Nearly 100 delegates from all over the province" attended the annual meeting and cohferehce of the Otago Provincial Council of the Women’s Division of the Fanners’ Union held yesterday.j The retiring president (Mrs W. H. Elliott) extended a welcome to delegates and expressed the; hope that.they would enjoy the conference and take much of interest, back to the branches.

Annual Report

The stated that there had been continued interest in the work of the Women's Division. Although a new branch had been formed at , Wahgaloa during the’ year, two branches—Katea anp Waihola—had found that they were unable to carry on. The roll stood at s3* branches with a total mem-bership-of 1557,' including 101 junior members and 91 unflnancial members'; -The ; . junior membership remained Sabdut the same, but, though the of unflnancial members had decreased by about 50, the number, of senior financial members was last year ? s total. There was • Scope for an endeavour by, branches to increase their member*hThe^difficulty of getting housekeepers bt tbtherhelp for the country* Tiad steadily increased, and, with thelexhlbition ahead, there was not likely'to be much relief in the-near famine The division had had six housekeepers: working, ■. throughout the year and had, relied on a nujnbet of other women to. help, it out •fifties, when . t% housekeepers wefe. not available/' Of ~ the si?:: imuraieiepers, only : two - remained, • fotamkving left to take permanent positions," and at the present time one ■ of the,two was on the sick, list and- tbe'-other was unable to do; all kindsVof work. Notwithstanding the shortage,, 46 positions had been filled during the : year, and of these 10 had been assisted from the Community Chest. In view of the great difficulty ’in: getting housekeepers, the ..would ask the different :gr6ups to consider putting into operation the suggestion that a scheme of local emergency help should* be organised for use when the division’s housekeepers were not available, or for cases where a full-time housekeeper was not necessary. .A - „ ... Donations. .to the . Community Chest and the General, Fund were a little less, than last year, but not all branches had contributed to-the funds// The response to the Special Community .Chest Fund had been good, although again a number of branches had not yet contributed. “ Country Girls’ Educational Week and,- * Country Women’s Week ’’ had beed highly successful. Branch activities were both educational and social, and the division was grateful for bssistSnce given by various organisations, demonstrators, and lecturers. Report Adopted . .... <; • Moving the, adoption of the repor c: and balance sheet, Mrs Elliott extended sympathy to members who had suffered bereaveniehts during the year. She pledged a new members’ allegiance to their Majesties, King George and :Queen Elizabeth, and expressed the hope that their journeyings would foster goodwill and /friendship*, ■■ She- thankpd; members for their assistance, hospitality, and friendship. . > “ Because of the changing economic conditions in our-country,” she said, " we are experiencing extreme difficulty in procuring our supply of housekeepers, for country women, and this is causing us great anxiety. We know too well the multitudinous tasks that make up the daily life of the average farm woman, and it is very distressing for us to- have to refuse assistance to the very women for whom our organisation came into operation. We cannot ■ neglect these women, but will need to seek help for them m some other direction. “Progress and service have cul-" minated this year in our bringing into reality and operation one of the cherished ideals of our organisation,” Mrs Elliott continued. “It has bought the Rest Home for women at Awapuni in : the North Island/ lit this' beautiful home set in a delightful garden, our members will receive all care and attention from willing hearts' and hands. The happiest feature in connection with the.-home I feel is that all members, no matter how they are situated financially, will be able to enjoy the comforts there. Through our .Community Chest we are able to help the unflnancial one and it will be a great joy to .do so. This Rest Home belongs to all members whether they live in the North or South' Island, and the success of it is assured,:if we all co-operate to that end.

“The city people have placed us once more in their debt with their generositv and hospitality. This machine age and the advancement of science have nrleant that .backblocks practically no longer exist Science has given to us the marvellous invention of wireless, which can keep us in touch with city life every minute of the day' if we so desire. This is all for our good, but experience teaches us that no contact is so valuable as the personal contact. The city people realise this also, for during Country Girls’ and Country Women’s Weeks, no effort is spared by them to make these weeks a cherished memory in the lives of our> ; members. The success of these weeks is largely due to their generosity. The industrial and cultural life, of the city is passed on to us by experts in their work so that we might derive the greatest benefit from these visits.

We hope for the continuation of the good relations between the town and country, for sympathy and understanding between us are essential to the welfare of the people. The motion was seconded by Mrs W, J. McKenzie and carried. Election of Officers The following office-bearers were elected: —President, Mrs W. Annan (Clyde); Executive—Mesdames K, Scott (Glenorchy), A. Allison (Hawea Flat), J, M. Charles (Omakau), R. J. E. Smith (Wedderbum), G. Renwick (Middlemarch), D. M. Kelly (Ettrick), W. Macfarlane (Balclutha), W. J. McKenzie (Waikoikoi), T. McNab (Tahatika), W. Wendelken (Milton), A. Grant (Mosgiel), 1. W. Cowie (Dunedm), G. Karetai (Otakou), and W. H. Wedge (Palmerston).

Greetings From Farmers’ Union Greetings were extended to the conference by the president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union '(Mr W. W, Mulholland), who referred to the good work the Women’s Division y/as doing in attending to the social welfare of country people. There was so much still to be done despite the fact that social security had been introduced by the Gov* eminent. He congratulated the divi-

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sion on its past work, and expressed the hope that it would carry on in the same way in the future. Greetings were also extended by Mr R. S. Thompson, the newlyelected provincial president, Mr F. V/aite, Dominion vice-president, and Mr A. C. Cameron. Removal of Debt The indebtedness of just over £ 13 disclosed in the balance sheet was stressed by several delegates, and ways and means of wiping the debt off were fully discussed. The president pointed out that the total bank balances of the branches amounted to several hundred pounds and she felt sure that they could find enough to pay off the debt. After a long discussion, it was decided that delegates suggest to their branches that they should send a donation to help wipe off the debt. Contributions by delegates collected during the conference by Mrs E. J Iversen reduced the debt by £4 12s Remits Remits from the Clydevale and Clutha branches that lectures and talks from outside persons should not interfere with the business of the conference were carried. A remit from the Berwick branch that subscriptions to the provincial

fund should be on a membership basis gave rise to a lengthy discussion. Several speakers deplored any suggestion of compulsion in the contributions by branches, and an amendment that it be a recommendation to branches to send contributions on the basis of membership was moved by Mrs A. Grant, seconded by Mrs J. Clark, and carried. “ That philanthropic appeals be limited,” was a remit from the Clinton branch that was carried. Interesting Addresses An interesting address on the European situation was given by Mrs Peter Milne, the talk being followed with keen attention by delegates. A vote of thanks was accorded her on the motion of Mrs Annan. Dr Siedeberg McKinnon gave a talk on the proposed centennial memorial to pioneer women in Otago, and stressed the great need for a central meeting place and rest rooms in the city She appealed for support for the project. A vote of thanks was accorded her.