WOMEN’S DIVISION EXECUTIVE

Southland Times, Issue 24623, 20 December 1941, Page 5

WOMEN’S DIVISION EXECUTIVE

QUARTERLY MEETING

At the quarterly meeting of the Southland executive of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, held yesterday in the U.F.S. Hall, there i was not the usual good attendance because the shortage of petrol prevented many of the delegates from coming to town. Mrs J. Dennis (Waikaia), the provincial president, welcomed those present and with her was associated the provincial secretary, Mrs J. Kennard (Roslyn Bush). A letter was received from Mrs C. C. Derritt, Women’s War Service Auxiliary, asking that the members help with the making of camouflage nets. It was decided that all possible assistance would be given. When Mesdames R. Russell and T. S. Smith presented the housekeeping reports, there was a good deal of discussion on the shortage of domestic labour in the country. Mrs Smith stated that they had approached Miss M. May, principal of the Southland Girls’ High School, to see if any of lhe girls would be willing to help during the school holidays. Miss May had been very sympathetic and put the question to the girls, but the response had been poor, mainly because they did not wish to deal with girls under 16 years of age. The same problem occurred when an appeal had been made to the pupils of the Southland Technical College. A letter had also been received from the rector of the Gore High School (Mr E. H. W. Rowntree) stating that they would be unable to supply girls because many of them came from the country and their services were needed in their own | homes. ' i

It was announced that if boys were needed for farm work application would have to be made to the placement officer in Invercargill (Mr C. S. Bingham), who dealt with the boys from all schools within a radius of 10 miles.

Reports were given as follows:—Mrs F. W. Lokan (finance and health book sales); Mrs W. Orr (dressmaking classes); Mi's H. Anderson (boys’ and girls’ clubs); Mrs N. Mclntosh (music); Mesdames R. Russell and T. S. Smith (housekeeping); Mrs C. D. Taylor (Eastern Southland sub-executive); Mrs R. Russell (National Council of Women).

In giving the presidential address Mrs Dennis said she had not been able to do the work she had planned because the shortage of petrol had affected transport.' It was hoped that in these difficult times everything possible would be done to keep the organization going. It might be necessary to restrict the number of executive meetings, and on the recommendation of Mrs Smith it was decided to hold one every two months from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., and when necessary an office-bearers’ meeting in the afternoon.