WOMEN’S DIVISION

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1234, 12 June 1947, Page 3

WOMEN’S DIVISION

PROVINCIAL GATHERING A well-attended inter-provincial gathering of representatives of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers was held in the National Party rooms in Hamilton on Tuesday of last week. After welcoming delegates, the chairwoman, Mrs. A. V, Sealey, introduced Mrs. M. McLeavey, Domin-. ion Treasurer, who had come to help in the many discussions. Dealing especially with housekeeping problems, Mrs. McLeavey emphasised that the division was working its own, not a Government, schemeThis was the first and is still the best scheme in the Dominion. The division -makes its own rules and operates them but with the Government subsidy is able to pay higher wages to the housekeepers, thus keeping women who would otherwise be lost to more-remunerative employment. The arrangement with the Government necessitated division housekeeper secretaries sending in to headquarters detailed reports of ail engagements, time worked and wages paid- The Government subsidy was paid on the total amount of wages paid, but the division advisory members still had to exercise all care and supervision in the matter of assisting cases. United Nations Assembly During the afternoon session the main speaker was Mrs. D. Mclntosh, who had been one of New Zealand’s four women delegates to the United Nations Assembly in New York. MrsMclntosh explained that only five of the 57 countries represented there had sent any women delegates, viz.; United States, Chile, India, the Dominican Republic and New Zealand. After a graphic description of several of the United Nations’ leading personalities, .with special reference to Messrs. Trigve Lie and Spaalc, Mrs. Mclntosh gave some details of the work done by 'the Trusteeship Committee of the Social and Economic Council, and also of the Board of the International Emergency Fund, and of the difficulties that were overcome in order to draft a constitution. Before anything could be done representatives from the various countries sitting on thy, Board, whose views on thjk-problem , of displaced persons in Europe were completely divergent, had to find some

common ground from which to 1 start. Some of the displaced persons .were afraid to return to their homelands; some were anxious to return and could not.

Displaced Persons There was the problem of finding out who were genuinely afraid and who were using fear as an excuseSome Governments were wanting these persons to punish them because they felt they were traitors. The Board decided that real traitors should be sent home, but a very thorough combing of displaced persons had to be done before reaching decisions. Several representatives of countries where one man in four had been killed during the war, e.g., Poland and Russia, were emphatic that they must have all genuine citizens of their lands returned to help with their manpower problems. In time, despite differences of opinion, a workable constitution had been drafted. Mrs. Mclntosh touched on the work of the International Health Organisation, which has taken over the welfare work of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration). V \

Helping Children She also spoke of the setting up of the International Children’s Fund, which is to be raised to help the estimated 60 million children who are victims of the European war—children who are to all intents and purposes lost- These children have been separated from their families, have possibly seen their parents killed 1 or driven- away, have lived precariously, bidden away mueh of the time, have learnt evefy conceivable crime, and have grown up without adequate education and without knowledge of any moral code. Every country in Europe had its children’s problem, and those Governments which were in the future to use the money raised were to send in to the Board their plans for the correct spending of the funds in training and educating these children to become useful citizens. At the conclusion of the address, after a remit on tile housing shortage had been discussed, a vote of thanks k jvas passed to Mrs. McLeavey and Mrs. Mclntosh, and also to the South Auckland executive, which had assisted Piako in arranging the conference.

TIRAU MEETING The May meeting of the Tirau branch of the W.D.F.F. was held recently, There was a fair attend* ance of members. Mrs. Hamlin sidedAfter dealing with business in general, - arrangements were completed- for the celebration "of the branch’s 'birthday, which falls this month, and it is hoped a, good' programme will result. The president welcomed three new members. It was pointed' out that in the report' of the annual 1 meeting the office of vice-presidents should have read Mrs. Amoore and Mrs. Buchanan, and that of 'rest room secretary, Mrs. To-wler. Competition results were: Jar of autumn 'berries and leaves, Mrs. Hamlin 1, Mrs Sherson and Mrs O’Sullivan (equal) 2; flour bag article, Mrs Hamlin T, Mrs Verry 2, Mrs, Sherson 3. The hostesses were Mrs. Amoore and Miss Stinson, and the meeting was closed with the National Anthem.