THE WOMEN’S DIVISION

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 28 (Supplement)

THE WOMEN’S DIVISION

PROGRESS IN TEN YEARS MOVEMENT'S WONDERFUL GROWTH MUTUAL SERVICE ENJOYED. (By Mrs. H. Harris, provincial president of the North Taranaki branch of the Division). Few would have thought when the first branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was formed at a branch meeting of the union, within a few miles of New Plymouth, that in less than ten years there would be an organisation existing in New Zealand with 410 senior and 14 junior branches, and with a total membership of 14,312. When that branch was formed, the Division had only just come into existence, it was not organised, no rules had been drawn up, even a scheme on which to work had still to be formulated. The one fact on which the Division stood was the need, the dire need of help for many women and children on the land, the response to which was not forthcoming, and the strong determination somehow, to give that help, among their sisters in the farming community. During the first year after the Division was inaugurated, Mrs. W. J. Polson, who was travelling in Europe and America, gathered wherever she went all the information she could . about women’s organisations, with special reference to country women. She was the first Dominion President of the Women’s Division, and to her energetic and stimulating leadership the organisation owes a great debt. While Mrs. Polson was carrying out this' research work abroad the first general secretary of the Dominion, Mrs. C. C. Jackson, was getting into touch by letter with women on the land in every part of the Dominion, in order to find out in what way an organisation could minister to the greatest common needs of farmers families. . The first little branch .-formed with the idea that the first need was for members and faced with the necessity for some kind of action to justify its existence, began by holding monthly meetings in the homes of the members. To those meetings, members were asked to bring any ,sewing they might be doing for their families, or mending, any woman having nothing on hand which she could bring being prepared to help any of the others. It was also agreed that each member was to bring with her a plate towards afternoon tea. There was more in this arrangement than met the eye. The little sociable afternoon once a month was thoroughly enjoyed by women who rarely spared time for visiting. But to spike the guns of critics—who, by the way, were not merely imaginary—who might declare that these women were merely finding a new way of wasting time, it was argued that the members were accomplishing something in a neighbour’s house, which they would otherwise have done at home. And further, that even the hostess need do no extra work for the occasion. Matters of interest were discussed, and one of the objects of the Division was being attained—the refreshment and recreation which is provided by sociability, and change of scene for those whose lives are spent almost entirely in one environment. PRESENT DAY ACTIVITIES. And now contrast the activities of those first branches in their untried work, seeking to break ground and to find means of enhancing the welfare of the people on' the land, with the work of the Women’s Division at the present day. From farthest north to. farthest south a network of branches covers the Dominion, all working in conjunction for one common object, the betterment of conditions on the land, and the relief of present distress. From that first tentative step, those first efforts to interest farm women in one another has grown a great, rich field of plan, effort and achievement. If ever there was one instance of true co-operation it is, here. The whole sum of the resources of all branches in the Division is pooled, not only in a material sense in the Community Chest, but in every sense of the word. The first objective aimed at was to give help to farmers’ wives in times of sickness or emergency, and it is on the lines laid down fqr this work that the activities of the Division have been developed. On this side of the work new phases have appeared from time to time, and now material help is being freely given by branches, where passible, and from the great common store when individual branches are unable to cope with the situation. This help may be actual finance—the Division has cut the word charity out of its vocabulary—it may be clothing, or personal service, members banding themselves together to ■ render those little domestic offices that perhaps a sick mother was unable to carry out for herself.

It may be, as in the excellent branch at New Plymouth and in other towns, the visiting of patients in hospital whose relatives are too far away to come and see them, and the receiving in their homes of convalescent country women or children, until they are strong enough to go home. If this can be done without any actual outlay, the patient being received as a guest, it is so done. If it is found necessary to pay board, the money itself is forthcoming. The slogan of the Division has come to be, no genuine appeal for help from a farmer’s family is ever turned down.

The Dominion secretary, at headquarters at Wellington, administers a territory which is only bounded by the sea in the work of the bush nurse and housekeeper auxiliary. Provincial executives are being formed and will gradually decentralise this work to a large extent. This wonderful work of cooperation is rewarding both those that give and those who receive. Women who have undertaken any office or duty for the Division find their outlook broadened and their general knowledge increased, so that even those who are in no need of material help are receiving benefit. They make new and valued friendships and can come freely in touch with women to whom they feel they can look up, and whose influence is to them like sunshine. Addressing the delegates at the recent annual conference at Wellington, the Dominion president, Mrs. W. H. Ward, said: “Tfire Dominion secretary’s report will give the statistics relating to the progress of the organisation. These will show that we have much cause for thankfulness.” Although we are strictly non-sectarian, we are not a non-religious body. Tire creed with which we open our meetings proclaims our need of, and our desire for, spiritual guidance. We call it a creed, but it is a prayer, and a very 'beautiful one, which is answered for many by wider vision, saner outlook, higher ideals and a joy in service. In our efforts to supply the country woman’s greatest need, our activities have become numerous and varied. There seems to be no limit to the good that an organisation such as this can do. Our leaders have dreams and plans for

greater expansion yet. Team work has been excellent, branches are in good heart, and members are practising cooperation in a practical manner. Branch reports show that the philanthropic, educational, economic and social work is being carried out with enthusiasm. All the usual activities of lectures, debates, playreading, handcraft, competitions, gar-den-parties, socials and dances, have been well maintained, and have done much to make and' cement the friendships which this movement has brought to country women.

Many deserving families have been assisted during the year. Headquarters’ statistics of work done give a mere fraction of what has been accomplished. Every branch is doing work which is confidential, and which goes to prove that members are “caring for their neighbours.” Other undertakings of the Division are the care of Flock House trainees, who have been befriended by members living in the district where they are employed. The Division also supports four trainees at Flock House. The Dominion Book Club, sends out hundreds of parcels of books and magazines. For the last year the numbers were 2300 books, besides magazines. Tire membership fee is 2s 6d per annum. Besides this, there is the enterprise of establishing rest-rooms in towns, which can be used by both town and country women. In many cases this is done in co-operation with other bodies, as circumstances permit. Women’s Exchanges are also in operation in several centres, where the country women can bring produce and handwork to be offered for sale.

Anyone who has been interested in this great national movement must be struck by one obvious feature in its development to-day. From a reaching out by scattered and otherwise unrelated groups of women, from rudimentary discussions about dimly perceived objectives, and tentative local efforts to create interest and. the very necessary reserve funds, gradually a new and beautiful figure has developed. It is continually being welded more firmly, and formed more truly, becoming more compact, more definitely directed, more fully informed, tolerant, moderate, generous and wise—the Spirit of the Women’s Division.

One of the ideals held up by the leaders is that of co-operation with the Farmers’ Union, and it is a fact that there are

branches of the union which owe their existence to the Women’s Division. In North Taranaki the happiest possible relations exist between the two organisations, and the credit is due to the Farmers’ Union that it lent its influence freely in the early days, in allowing a member of the Division to address a branch meeting and thereupon forming the first branch, and in giving an opportunity at a provincial executive meeting for a speech to be made on the aims and ob • jects of the Division, by a branch president of the latter, in the days when its existence was practically unknown.