FARMERS' LUNCHEON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19337, 29 May 1937, Page 17

FARMERS' LUNCHEON

LOYALTY TO THE THRONE WOMEN'S DIVISION CROWS At the luncheon held prior to tho annual meeting of the Poverty Bay provincial executive of the Farmers' Union in Le Grand Cafe to-day the president, Mr. J. B. Benson, welcomed the large gathering of members and their wives, and congratulated tho members of the Women s Division present on their progress in the past two years. The following motion was read by the president, and carried by acclamation: "That this Poverty Bay branch of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union expresses, on behalf of the farmers of New Zealand, their loyalty and allegiance to His Majesty King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth, and expresses the wish that they may reign long and happily." All then joined in the singing of the National Anthem.

A past president of the Women's Division thanked the union for its invitation to tho luncheon, and remarked upon the progress of the division. When they started tho movement had a membership of 45 and that had now increased to 97, so she could say definitely that tho interest was growing. The house-keeping scheme was a success, and 32 housekeepers had been sent into the homes of the farmers since the opening of the scheme.

The women were trying to establish a system of caravan dental clinics for the back-block children, and asked for the support of all school committees and farmers' unions.

The president of the Tolaga Bay division, Mrs. C. O'Connell, said it had been a battle to form their branch, and at one stage it was thought hopeless. They wore attempting to get interested as many of the men as passible. Mrs. Humphreys also spoke on the work of the division, and said there were a great number of ways in which they could help one another when the occasion arose.

Appreciation of the work of the women was also mentioned by Mr. I. M. Newton.

The president asked for all members to baud together and become a stronger body. The Government gave the union a good deal of consideration, and it was not generally known by the average farmer what the union actually did lor him. lie knew that the Government had a big job to do and had honestly said that unless tho farmers helped they would not be able to carry out thenschemes.

"Wo must organise and strengthen our membership," concluded Mr. Benson.