WOMEN’S DIVISION NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1930, Page 18 (Supplement)

WOMEN’S DIVISION NOTES.

A FLOCK HOUSE PROPOSAL. (Contributed.) A .deputatjop of Women’s Division /members, e'pmprising Mrs. 0. C. JaekMrs. Sjmpson, MW- Lilburn and ■Misg Jordan, wfti Hie Minister of Jiducation at /Flock House ofli.ee at .Palmerston North tq^'ptit-before him a proposal with regard'to Flock House. Mi-; J, A. N^b f ,M-P„ who introduced the deputation, explained that the usefulness of Flock House was disappearing through the supply of girls at Home being exhausted. The division wanted to know if the Government could acquire Flock House to be used as a training ground for New Zealand girls to fit them as helps for country women. Mrs. Jackfeop stated that the division takbn great interest in Flock House hoys and girls for the past five years, looking after fhepi in many ways when in situations. . The Minister gave a. most sympathetie hearjjig end promised that the matter would receive his careful attention and consideration. Mr. Nash expressed thanks and suggested that a second meetin J would be advisable, when the division could bring forward any further points. The Minister expressed his desire to meet the delegation again, especially if it could bring forward any further suggestions. housekeeper auxiliary. The bi-monthly meeting of the ‘Bush Nurse and Housekeeper Auxiliary of the Women’s Division was held at Palmerston North last week, Mrs. C. C. Jackson presiding. Associated with her were Mrs. D- Simpson, and Mrs. P. Smith and several presidents and others. Mrs. Burrell, one of the Women’s Division housekeepers, has been appointed matron of the Friends’ School, Wanganui. Reductions made to employers of housekeepers by Feilding, Bulls, Tauranga, Manaia, Awakeri, Waipukurau, Dipton, Broadwood, and Morrinsviile branches were confirmed. Many appeals for help in -nedepsitous cases were reported and arrangements were made far a mother suffering from . a nervous breakdown through privation to enter a hospital for treatment, A recommendation was made by the Wairarapa provincial executive to alter the application form for help, and, on the motion oJ Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. Dagg, it was decided to recommend to the 9 executive meeting in January that in future reference th the scale of charges be deleted-from the application form and the words Mees ou application” be inserted.

The Southland provincial executive asked for an increase in the emergency housekeeper’s salary, which was granted.

The Morrinsviile branch suggested a reduction in the salary of housekeepers. The Dominion president thought it was rather early yet to reduce salaries, but hinted* that this question would have to be faced shortly and would be considered at the executive meeting. . Tim Dominipn secretary reported that applications for hausckeepcrs were now very/numerous, there being at present 56 ip • employment, an increase •of 13 since the October report. Hawke’s Ray had 2, Bay. of Plenty 4, Routh Auckland 4, Wellington Central 13, North Auckland I, Taumaranui 5, Taranaki 4; Wairarapa executive 9, Palmerston North 1, Pio Pio 1, Levin 1, North Canterbury. 1, South Canterbury 2, Blenheim I, Otago 4,"-Southland 3. One maternity nurse was employed in the Bay of Islands. The half-yearly financial repqrt stated that the Government had again made a grant of £ISQ for travelling expenses For this year. The sum of £77 as 3d had been spent and only £8 15s 9d had refunded by employers. The increase jn travelling expenses was oue to the fact that the division was now sending housekeepers further afield. The salaries of three visiting housekeepers for six months amounted to £]B4 116 10d; the increase to emergency housekeepers receiving 3Js and £2 per week, £2B ps 4d; amount paid on emergency housekeepers’ salaries, £167 7s 7d; amount .paid for maternity nurses, £52 Is; total £424 5s 9d, Amounts refunded were, —Employers’ refund for vigiting housekeepers, £lO3 J4s 9fi; emergency housekeepers, £44 ss; total £147 10a lOd, This meant that , the division had actually paid <?ut £286 5s lid for housekeepers’ salaries during the past six months. Account must be taken of tho amount which was always owing oij visiting housekeepers’ salaries, in this case amounting to £74, and also the amount of £2B 5a 4d, the increasp to those having given over one year’s continuous service, which left the actual amount paid out to help necessitous eases £lB4 Os 7d.

A letter from a lady in the far north expressed appreciation of help received frorp the division in a difficult period. Branches are asked to send in writing the particular alterations required in any amendment of rules. Prior to closing the meeting, Mrs. Dagg, on behalf of members, conveyed the season’s, greetings to Mrs. Jackson, and. asked her to accept a small Christinas gift in appreciation of her work from the members of the auxiliary. Mrs. Jackson reciprocated the good wishes and suitably expressed her thanks for the present, NUMEROUS APPLICATIONS. To prove what a boon the bush nurse and housekeeper scheme of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union is to country women, the Dominion secretary stated at d meeting Jaat week that she had had as many as ten applications in one day for housekeepers to be placed at a moment’s notice. Discussing the difficult problem of the difference between payments made by employers and housekeepers’ salaries, the treasurer stressed the necessity for branch advisory members making' every inquiry into applicants’ ability to pay or otherwise. The division is expected to supply housekeepers at less than ruling rates, and exploiting must be prevent--cd. Circumstances alter eases, apd each one should be-treated on its merits. Therefore applicants should give longer notice when applying for this service to allow a reasonable time for action. MASTERTON REST ROOM. The Women’s Division’s rest room at Masterton was opened last week. Great credit is due to Mrs. James, provincial secretary, and her committee, who have worked so hard that sufficient funds were raised and donations given to completely furnish and prepare the room in a record short time.

. A meeting of the Masterton branch of the division was hold in the room, when . Airs. Jackson congratulated Airs. James and her committee on their wonderful achievement. The rest room will be available to all members on payment of half a crown each year.

The secretary of Flock House notified the meeting that a number of boys and a few girls would be available for suitable employment immediately after Christmas.

Miss Nellie Scanlan. Miss Nellie Scanlan, who has just had a novel accepted by Jarrold’s, London, is a daughter of the late Sergeant Scanlan, who some years ago was in charge of the police station at Palmerston North, and is a sister of Mrs. T. J. Rodgers, Palmerston North, says the Manawatu Daily Times. . She was engaged Tor some time in commercial work there, and during the war took- up journalism, acting as sub-editor of the Manawatu Times, a position which she filled with much ability, I iter, she was engaged on other- papers, and at the conclusion'of the war Miss Scanlan went on a lengthy toyr abroad, visiting- England and America, where ghc lectured extensively on subjects connected with. New Zealand, and was associated with - various phases of women’s work. On her return to the_ Dominion she entered on free-lance journalism. Latterly she has been living in London, and acting as correspondent for variousi journals, Spaqiqh Ornaments,

Spain contributes some, charming old jewellery tp'the present vogue for wear with qvenijig gowns —car,j'iags, bracelets, nebklet/, and so on, writes a London fashion expert. Some of it is inset withered stones, while other choice pieces are content to be exquisitely engraved. The flair for Spanish, jewellery is also bringing into fashion tho immense crosses bf Toledo steel attached to chains which reach below the waist. Luminous Ash-trays.

Cigarette ash, which ruins the most exquisite colour schemes, has been given a special study in the new Cambridge Theatre, “Seven Dials,” which was opened in .September with the “Chariot Masquerade,” writes a Londoner. in the foyers are luminous and placed on eye level, so that there is no excuse-for men or women smokers “not noticing them.” Every seat has its own ash-tray and electric light, so that not only can play-goers look at their' programmes while a scone \is in progress, but they pan sec where- the ash-trays have been fixed. An amusing decorative touch is added by the copper-oojoured dust sheet? of quite immense site that are destined to cover seats, carpets, and chairs during thw daytime, What is palled directional' decoration has been employed from the entrance, hall to the auditorium, which means that guiding lines in carpets and an even flow of colour warming towards the nucleus of the buildings are designed to impel the audience —late-comers especially—-to-wards their seats!