WOMEN’S DIVISION

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 19

WOMEN’S DIVISION

• FARMERS’ UNION. NOTES OF THE WEEK. The fourth annual conference will be opened by our patron, Lady Alice Fergusson, at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, in Wellington. Branches have responded nobly all over New Zealand to the earthquake fund, and a lettei’ has been received appreciating the prompt and practical help of headquarters in sending blankets, etc.

There is great rejoicing at headquarters. Mrs. Smith, whom most of us remember as Miss Phyllis Ingram, the capable secretary of the Invercargill branch, has undertaken to look after the office until conference and after if conference approves. When Canterbury visited Southland, and hundreds of unexpected guests arrived, it was Miss Phyllis Ingram who triumphed over seeming disaster, arranged hospitality, and even requisitioned the shops in the harbour for sleeping accommodation. As Mrs. McKenzie (Southland), one of the pioneers in our movement lay dying she expressed the wish that Miss Ingram would be Dominion secretary and, behold! while the mills of the gods have been grinding, dreams have come true! A remit has gone forth to Parliament from the National Council of Women asking that the “Pure Food Act be strictly administered.” In a letter to headquarters Mr. Watson, the convenor of the committee which the N.C.W. has called to inquire into the matter of food adulteration, has gone fully into the subject, showing not only how the national health is affected (dyspepsia, gastric troubles, cancer, etc., are all on the increase), but also how our trade abroad will be affected if we persist in using preservatives in our butter, bacon, fish, jams, pickles, sauces, etc. Even the cakes and pastries require strict supervision, and substitutes for eggs, buttei’ and flavouring are on the increase. The letter makes most interesting reading, and would servo as a basis for branch discussion at the monthly meeting. Headquarters .will bo delighted to forward a copy of the letter to any branch that is interested in the matter.

Douglas.—The Douglas hon. secretary (Mrs. Walter Bredon) is confined to the house by a bad cold. Much interest is being taken in the “Dominion Book Club,” and it is hoped to have the books circulated in the district shortly. The next meeting of the Douglas branch will be held on Monday, July 22, in the hall at 1 p.m. Members will regret to hear that so far there is no improvement in Mrs. Brown’s little boy. Opunake.—The monthly meeting of the Opunake branch of W.D.F.U. was held in the County Chambers on July 1, there being a very good attendance. In the unavoidable absence of the president (Mrs. Chambers), the chair was taken by Mrs. J. Young. Remits to the conference were read, and discussed with much interest by the members. Prior to the meeting, Nurse Inglis continued instruction on Homo Nursing, the parts taken being temperatures and bandaging, which aroused much interest among the pupils. The luncheon was provided at the Farmers’ Yards, and met with a good response. Our next meeting -will be held on August 5.

THE DUTIES OF A SECRETARY.

What are the duties of a branch secretary? The duties of a branch secretary are: (1) To supply tire chairman with a clearly expressed order of business for each meeting; (2) to keep correct accounts of all monies raised or expended, drawing up a financial statement at the end of the year to be presented tq the members of the branch at the annual meeting; (3) to send in regular monthly reports to headquarters after each meeting, with tho names and addresses of all new members; (4) to advertise

the meeting well before hand, not only in tho local paper but by telephone and mail; (5) to see that all necessary arrangements for tho meetings are properly made. Don’ts for Secretaries.—As the secre-

tary is tbo strength of an organisation, the following are a few “don’ts” that may be appreciated: (1) Don’t forget to read all circulars and correspondence that comes to you as secretary at your meetings; (2) don’t forget to notify any change of address or change of secretary to headquarters; (3) don’t forget to send reports of your meetings to the Daily News for Saturday’s W.D. column; (4) don’t forget .to subscribe for and read the Daily News, our official organ in Taranaki; (5) don’t rest until every member of your branch is interested in Saturday’s W.D. column; (6) don’t wait for members to pay up their annual fee each year, but get after them; (7) don’t let any members drift out of the organisation without finding out the reason; (8) don’t forget to answer all correspondence and questionaires promptly; (9) don’t forget to have a well prepared order of business for each meeting for the use of your president; (10) don’t forget to advertise well your meetings; (11) don’t just scrawl notices of meeting on bits of paper, and put in the store or post office, but study the best plan of advertising, using tho Daily News, the telephone and tho penny post; (12) don’t omit to keep a correct record of tho attendance at your meetings. It is the one method of gauging each member’s interest in the branch; (13) don’t try to run your branch single-handed. Ask for assistance from tho rank and file; (14) don’t neglect to keep proper accounts of all income and expenditure of the branch, and see that the books are audited once a year; (15) don’t forget to remit all dues, names and addresses of new members to head quarters promptly and at least onco every three months;. (16) and, above all, when things go wrong and the multitudinous little duties press heavily don’t grumble, but smile. Tho merry heart goes all tho way and take comfort; it’s all for tho good of tho cause!