NEEDS OF TODAY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 223, 10 December 1934, Page 6

NEEDS OF TODAY

COURAGE AND COMMON SENSE.

WOMEN'S WORK IN COUNTRY.

Feilding, Dec. 8

"At no time in the country's history than during the last 2 or 3 years has there been greater need for optimism, courage and common sense on the part of our women," remarked the Minister of Defence, Hon.. J. G. Cobbe, in opening the largely-attended afternoon garden party yesterday, of the "Women's Division of the! New Zealand Farmers' Union, i Men need encouragement in these trying times," dontinued the Minister, " and women give it to them in no small measure." The leaders of the "Women's Division of the farmers' Union, he said were women who saw visions and dreamed dreams of even greater growth and wider spheres of usefulness in the future. Upon strictly non-sectar-ian a.nd non-party political lines had the Women's Division developed since its foundation some 9 years ago. At the first meetingj there Avere 22 members present, j To-day there were 400 branches j comprising some 14,000 members who in their organisation were \ linked up with the main body of ; the Farmers' Union to the advantage of both. That, union was working to help and advise the farmer in an economic way and watching over his interests. The Women's Division was trying to make things easier and better for the women and children, especially in the backblocks and it had succeeded admirably in doing so. The housekeeper scheme of the women's institution whic provided a reliable woman to assist a farmer's wife for a short period had achieved success, He had been informed that between 40 and 60 housekeepers had been engaged constantly in the work mentioned. Nurses were also supplied where necessary, but the liousekecping scheme enabled mothers to go into hospitals and nursing homes knowing that their homes and children would be Avell looked after during their absence. That was a splendid practical system : to adopt, and the help and ease I of mind it gave to the backblock I household in such times could j well be imagined.