WOMEN’S DIVISION

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1929, Page 19

WOMEN’S DIVISION

FARMERS’ UNION. ACTIVITIES OF THE WEEK. After all, affairs of State have intervened and, much to her regret, our fourth annual conference will not bo opened by her Excellency the Lady Alice Fergusson. It has been arranged that she and his Excellency should visit the earthquake stricken areas and Westport. As this will be the last opportunity most of our members will have of meeting our patron the Division is regretting the earthquake more than ever. The conference opens with Bracken’s beautiful hymn, "God Defend New Zealand,” and in this the Division only follows Canada’s lead. There all women's organisations open with “0 Canada,” and close with the British National Anthem. When Miss McCorkindale (Australia) was hero lecturing on the youth movement she w’rote back congratulating the Division on its patriotic sentiment. To her it was a matter for great regret that when a thousand women met in conference in New York, the bands played each group to its place with its national song, but the bands had no national music with which to welcome the Australian and New Zealand representatives when they came. The Division is doing its best to wipe out this reproach.

The Women’s Division on the wireless! In honour of the birthday party of the Levin branch, which was held at Mrs. Mervyn Gorringc’s' house on Tuesday last, 2YQA put on three special items. The announcer also made a happy little speech on the aims and objects of the Division and spoke of the good work that had been done, and wished the organisation every success. The Nelson and Wakapuaka branches consider that the best way the division can help the women and children in the earthquake area is for headquarters to hold all funds subscribed by the branches until such time as the women and children return home and then give direct help. They also suggest that this matter should be thoroughly discussed at the conference.

The monthly meeting of the Awatuna branch was held on Tuesday last. Owing to the illness of Mrs. Barker (president) Mrs. Bourke took the chair. Arrangements were made for a euchre party and dance in aid of the funds of ■ihe community chest. At the Stratford meeting a vote of sympathy with Mrs. Gillies in her illness was passed. Mrs. Gillies, who has acted as honorary organiser for the division, has increased the membership in Taranaki by 460. The euchre party and dance arranged by the Toko branch for July 25 in the Toko Coronation Hall promises to be a great success. Jluinga has offered to help, and a very cordial invitation lias been extended to the members of all other branches.

There were 29 present at the monthly meeting of the Inglewood branch, four new members being elected. An apology was received from Dr. Doris Gordon, regretting her inability to give a lecturette on obstetrics at present, but that she hoped to do so later on in the year,. when ’ Dr. Gordon returns from America. Over I the tea cups members discussed the arj rangements for their party, and a very liapi’y afternoon was spent. At the recent conference of Education Boards the following remit was passed. “That National Scholarships be abolished as such, and the money so saved bo devoted to the provision of lodging allowances for country children desirous of pursuing secondary education.” The monthly meeting of the Stratford branch was held in Messrs, Rutherford, McAllister and Coleman’s board room on Tuesday last. Owing to Mrs. A. Budge’s absence in Hawke’s Bay, Airs. Phillips was in the chair. The minutes were read, accounts in connection with the euchre party and dance were passed, and the remits for the. conference were thorI oughly discussed. The Inglewood branch is congratulating itself on its first money-making venture. At their euchre party and dance in the town hall on July 10 the takings were over £l9. Seventy-two sat down to cards, Harris' orchestra provided the dance music, and songs and recitations added, to the general enjoyment.