A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4044, 6 May 1938, Page 8

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

WOMEN’S DIVISION. PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT. The president, Mrs W. G, Neill (Te Kawa), presented her annual report to the meeting of the Te Awamutu branch of the Women’s Division, as follows:

It is with pleasure that I again present my report on our year’s activities. Attendance at our monthly meeting is very good and keen interest and a happy spirit prevails. Our membership continues to increase and Jiow totals about 220, of which number 174 are financial. I would like to appeal to those who are not financial to make that right with our secretary, and it would be a great help to the secretary if all members would make a point of paying their subscriptions as early in the year as possible. A special financial effort was made in each district during the winter, resulting in a donation of about £2O towards our funds. This, with the monthly revenue derived from our afternoon teas, has kept our funds in a very healthy state, and we have been able to give in all £3O to our provincial executive community chest. Parcels of clothing were again distributed to several families in want, and these were much appreciated, and parcels of pyjamas, etc., were sent to the Bryant Home. Members also contributed during the year towards the King George Memorial- Fund, Makoagai leper fund, health campaign and St. John Ambulance. Our emblem of remembrance in the form of a wreath made by Miss Eyre, was laid as usual with others at the War Memorial on Anzac Day.

In July Miss Eyre and I went as delegates to the dominion conference in Wellington, and were thereafter able to give our report to Korakonui as well as to our own branch. It was a matter of much pleasure and pride to us all that Mrs Ry burn was appointed a member of the Dominion Advisory Board.

Miss Eyre is kept busy with calls for housekeepers, but always the difficulty is to find sufficient capable women for the work, and it should be emphasised that members have the first claim on these housekeepers, though we try when called on to send help to all distress cases. Since their arrival in the spring the sewing wo men have also been kept busy. The library still flourishes under Mrs Worthington's care. Several old books have been cleared out and will be replaced by new books, and it is hoped that more members will join and so stimulate a better library of books. The exchange table has improved considerably, and I am glad that members are making more use of it. I suggest that a convenor be appointed, to be responsible for the management of it during the year. The monthly competitions are not so well patronised by members, and whether they warrant being continued is a matter that might be considered by the new committee. We have been represented at the various birthdays of branches in our provincial, while delegates from other branches also attended our birthday in March, when we also had representatives from the Farmers’ Union, and husbands with us.

Our social committee has arranged very happily for our entertainment each month, with song, dance and recitations, as well as little plays by Korakonui and Kihikihi members; and a community sing conducted by Miss Spencer. A combined Farmers' Union and W.D. social and dance, held in June, was very successful and encouraging for future combined efforts to our mutual interest and benefit.

We have been addressed by Dr de la Mare, Mrs Blackmore, Mrs Noel Adams and Rev. M. Sullivan, while Mrs Treloar, of Hamilton, gave a demonstration on the making of flowers from wood pulp.

The outstanding meeting during the year was in October, when we had the pleasure of a visit from our Dominion president, Mrs Drake. The hall was packed with members and friends from other branches as well as our own members, and Mrs Drake’s talk and visit was greatly enjoyed by all. Our district table competition on that day was also an outstanding success. An exhibition stall, representing some of the work of W.D. members, was an interesting feature of the local A. and P. Show in February.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to our secretary and members of the committee for all the time and help they have so willingly given towards the successful working of our branch, and to all members for theii loyal support and co-operation. It would be invidious to mention individuals where all have done their bit and given their best. To this alone is due our prosperity and happiness as a branch, and it is something to be proud of —to work towards —in our W.D. ideal of “service." In conclusion, I would like to place on record once again our deep appreciation and gratitude to Mr Wynyard for auditing our balance sheet; and also to express our thanks to the press for the publicity they give us.