WOMEN’S DIVISION

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1929, Page 23 (Supplement)

WOMEN’S DIVISION

ELTHAAI BRANCH ACTIVITIES. A very interesting meeting of the Eltham branch of the W.D.F.U. was held on November 9. Airs. J. Cocker presided. The members present wore Mcsdames Pitcately, Simson, Coleman, White, Furborough, Jordon, Ogle and Austin.

The housekeeping scheme was fully discussed and thought still far from perfect. Afore power for each branch was the aim. All farms were not worked under the same conditions. Mrs. Cocker asked the secretary to' write and ask a few questions of headquarters. The ladies who offered their gardens for garden parties, were thanked. Several schemes were discussed for raising money, and members exhibited keenness. Those present offered to give some work that would sell.

Airs. Austin handed in the subscriptions she had collected and was thanked., Mrs. Austin is collecting in the Rawhitiroa district. All members were invited to attend next meeting. The Eltham district is so large that members find it hard to attend regularly. The Ngaire members wish to form a branch of their own. No objection has been raised to that as long as they do all that is required to start a new branch.

Mrs. Pitcately thanked those who gave books and magazines to the book club.’ Air. Bridger. has assisted and books are left at his shop. The books are' sent to the backbloeks and circulated;

Members expressed sympathy with Airs. Gernhoefer in her recent bereavement. Sister Inglis gave a red cross lesson on' reading thermometers, filling in charts, counting pluse beats, and bandaging arms and putting them in comfortable slings. The next lesson will be the last of the course. Bedmaking and sponging a patient while in tho bed will bo demonstiated.

; The objects, rules and regulations of the Women’s Division of ■ the Harmers’ Union, which have been under revision, have now been published in a neat phamplet form, and can be had on application to branch secretaries or headquarters in the D.I.C. building, Wellington. There have also come to hand the answers of Government departments to letters which the Dominion secretary was instructed to write. These relate to questions of very general interest, principally education and health. There is the information, for instance, that J where the holder of a junior or senior I scholarship is obliged to live away from ;home in order to prosecute his studies, he receives an additional sum of £35 a year if he is a junior scholar and £5O if he is a senior scholar. Other correspondence deals with the time for transference of teachers, the management of sole charge schools by young teachers from training -college, and the establishment of special classes for backward children. There are now 26 special classes of this kind in various parts of the Dominion, under specially trained teachers. Most of these are necessarily in the largest centres, but as soon as possible others will be established in the principal country centres. The health remits replied to deal largely with-the dental treatment of school children, while there are a few referring to maternal welfare and to hospitals in general. Others deal with miscellaneous matters of citizenship, but sufficient mention has beeir made to show that the division is not only taking an active interest, but is stirring up the powers that be on questions that affect the well-being of the people in general. Members will watch with interest any developments in .connection with the proposed agricultural training for girls which -was discussed by the high school board recently. This is a question which is closely related to' one of the main objects of the division, namely improved facilities for-education and training for children on the land. It may be mentioned in passing that many girls in the Old Country take courses of training in agricultural work—vegetable gardening, dairying, poultry-keeping, etc. The present question, of course, is in connection with funds which could be made available for scholarships. The Hawera branch has postponed its monthly meeting to Thursday, December 12, on account of several bereavements in’the familes of members. The coming meeting will take the form of an afternoon tea with. Sister Ingles at 2.30, the business meeting being held for an hour before that.