HOUSEKEEPERS ON FARMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 943, 9 April 1930, Page 7

HOUSEKEEPERS ON FARMS

PLAN IN SOUTH AUCKLAND SUPPLIED BY FARMERS’ UNION Five housekeepers employed by the Morrinsville branch of the Women’s Li vision of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union have been kept busy during the past 25 weeks in giving temporary assistance to farmers in their homes. a\. plea for the closer co-operation of country housewives to enable the scheme of supplying suitable housekeepers to members who have difficulty in securing temporary assistance, was made at the annual meeting of the branch on Friday by the president. Mrs. A. I. Walker. For the past six months the branch employed live housekeepers, who were dispatched to farms throughout the district as the need arose. From January to March there were more applications than could be filled, although tho demand varied greatly at times. Considerable difficulty had been experienced in getting and keeping suitable housekeepers, but the farmers were all quite satisfied with those employed. It is generally impossible to supply help in under three days, as the women employed by the South Auckland provincial executive have a very wide area to cover, and often have to travel long distances to reach their stations. Longer notice by those requiring help would serve in speeding up this service. Six branches in the South Auckland district have affiliated in forming the provincial executive, with headquarters at Hamilton, which controls the housekeepers for the branches. Meetings are held every two months, three delegates attending from each branch. The scheme*is now on a very secure basis and is proving a great success in those areas where suitable help is scarce.