WOMEN’S DIVISION WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1933, Page 8

WOMEN’S DIVISION WORK

STRATFORD BRANCH MEETING. SUCCESSFUL YEAR CONCLUDED. The large amount of work transacted during the past year by the Stratford branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was indicated in the reports submitted yesterday to the annual meeting, and members congratulated the committee and the executive officers upon the way they had discharged their duties. The balance-sheet showed the finances to be in a sound position. Mrs. H. E. Nowell presided over a large attendance. The year had been one of steady progress, said the president. Membership was much the same, but attendance at the meetings greatly increased, and the members had been keenly interested m all that interested women in rural areas. Problems had been freely discussed. Lectures or demonstrations were given by Mrs. McDowall, Drs. Doris Gordon and B. B. Armstrong, Miss Corrigan, Hawera, and Mr. Robinson, Government apiary expert. Mrs. C. C. Jackson, the Dominion president, visited the branch in August. In November the birthday party was held at the home of the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. Percy Thomson. Mrs. Young, advisory board member, attend-.d one meeting of . the bush nurse and housekeeper association at Palmerston North during the year. The president attended the annual conference at Wellington in July. About 25 woollen pull-overs and 23 singlets were ready to be distributed among the children of the unemployed. The sum of £2O 12s 5d was raised at the annual shop day in November. Mrs. W. Wickham baked 751 b. of Christmas cake for the shop day. On April 6 Mrs. Cocker and the president went to Cardiff to form a branch there. The branch was instrumental in forming a provincial executive for Central Taranaki. Mrs. Nowell thanked the officers of the branch for their work during the year. INQUIRY FOR HOUSEKEEPERS. In submitting her fourth annual report the advisory member, Mrs. W. H. Young, stated she attended one meeting at Palmerston North during the year. It was not advisable, however, to travel such a distance unless specific cases in the district were to be dealt with. There had not been the demand again this year for division housekeepers in the district. People were looking for something cheaper and they thought in a number of cases that the association was a registry office. If suitable women or girls wanted situations, an endeavour was made to help them before sending to headquarters. Two division housekeepers were placed this year in the Cardiff and Makahu districts and several emergency housekeepers were placed. As she was not seeking re-election Mrs. Young pointed out that the branch was overlooking the fact that although branches were being formed everywhere a great number of country women seldom came to town and could not in a great many cases attend meetings. The branch should set aside a sum of money every year to form a fund to be able to pay a capable nurse her salary and expenses to visit these women in their homes and talk to and advise them because they could not enjoy the benefits conferred by the ante-natal clinic at Stratford. Mrs. M. T. Phillips congratulated the branch upon the conclusion of a year marked by the extensive work that was done. Particularly was praise due to the three executive officers and to the advisory member. Mrs. Phillips opposed the suggestion that a nurse should be sent to the backblocks on the grounds that such a scheme was not necessary and would entail heavy expense. Women in the backblocks should be given every opportunity to acquire knowledge, said Mrs. H. A. Hunt, who considered that those branches which refused to vote £25 toward establishing the proposal should be censured. Mrs. P. Thomson congratulated the branch upon the results achieved. The reports and the balance-sheet showing a credit of £l7 15s lOd were adopted. The election of officers resulted: President, Mrs. M. G. Trotter; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames H. Cleland (Gordon Road), M. T. Phillips (Stratford), W. Wickham (Ngaere), J. Blair (Waipuku) and Newland (Wharehuia); committee, Mesdames C. Burton, A. Cook, J. Morrison and E.. S. Walker; advisory board member, Mrs. H. Cleland; treasurer, Mrs. W. F. Ross; secretary, Mrs. H. A. Hunt; Press correspondent, Mrs. C. Burton; delegates to provincial executive, Mesdames G. Major and M. T. Phillips; entertainment committee, Mrs. C. Burton (convener) with power to add. The branch will co-operate as far as possible in relief matters with the central relief committee. FERTILISING OF FARMS. LIQUID MANURE DISTRIBUTOR. With the need for economy many farmers are turning their attention to the conservation and utilisation of the large amount of fertiliser which is at present wasted on most farms. Consequently a demonstration at Mangatoki yesterday of the “Raukura” liquid manure distributor proved of considerable interest. The demonstration was given on the farm of Mr. Archie McGuinness, Hastings Road. The demonstration showed that much of the waste from cowyards could be profitably applied to the pastures. Mr. McGuinness’ farm is a model of its kind. Fifty acres in extent, it runs 36 cows, one bull and four calves all the year and is giving very good returns. The land is good and carries a rich sward of pasture which still shows plenty of feed. The cowshed is a model which many people come to see in order to gain ideas for improvements to their own. The drainage from the shed is collected by means of a sump. A vacuum pump can be attached to operate the discharge of this into the manure distributor. A well alongside the shed provides a permanent supply of good water, this being pumped to two tanks by an electric pump. On the farm there are numerous paddocks and each gateway is well metalled. The gates are ail swung and everything is convenient and easily worked. On a farm such as this dairying operations are shorn of half their unpleasantness. MANGAMINGI GOLF MATCHES. A bogey match at Mangamingi on Monday resulted:—Ladies: Miss Eileen Jackson 3 down, Mrs. G. Brown 4 down. Men: D. Knuckey 1 up, P. Hickey 4 down.