YEAR OF INTEREST

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1935, Page 6

YEAR OF INTEREST

HELP FOR COUNTRY WOMEN.

STRATFORD BRANCH OF W.D.F.U.

In spite of wintry conditions there were more than 20 members present at the annual meeting of the Stratford branch of the W.D.F.U. on Saturday. Mrs. M. G. Trotter presided. The year had been busy, said the president in her report. It had been successful socially and financially Ten monthly meetings and four executive meetings were held and a number of new members welcomed. Attendance at meetings was good. Competitions held were for an article made from a sugar bag, from one yard of fuji silk, for a jam jar of flowers and a covered coat-hanger. Mesdames Shaw; Hom and. Hunt did the judging. Demonstrations were given by Mrs. C. Carter. Mrs. Meads, Mrs. Hom and Mrs. Milne, the finished articles being displayed. Several families were assisted with parcels of clothing, all of which were new; a donation of £2 was made to the Central Relief Committee. Members of the branch assisted at relief rooms on several occasions. The branch took charge of the Blind Institute stall at the show, and . Mrs. Burton supervised. The returned soldiers also asked the branch to assist by selling goods. Several means were used to augment the branch funds. An afternoon was spent at the home of Mrs. A. D. Walker, Ngaere, a shop day and a birthday party were held. Invitations to birthday parties were received from many branches. Perhaps the best effort ever made by the Stratford branch -was the opening of the exchange mart for the benefit of country women, being a practicable way of furthering the aims and objects of the women’s division. The exchange was a success, although it entailed much extra work on members and officebearers. The branch owed much to the secretary, Mrs. G. Lamplough. The advisory board members, Mrs. Cleland and Mrs. Major, reported having placed three girls in positions. The roll stood at 53 financial and four unfinancial members, reported Mrs. Lamplough. All returns from competitions and shop day showed a decrease compared with the preceding year. Goods sold at the shop exchange on behalf of members realised the sum of £5B 14s 6d. Of this amount £56 2s 6d was paid out for goods and rent, leaving a balance of £2 12s profit to be set aside for the nucleus of a fund to establish a room or headquarters at Stratford for the use of all branches of the division in Central Taranaki. In hand was the sum of £lO 10s.

Reference to the services of Mrs. Trotter, Mrs. Lamplough and Mrs. Ross during the year was mad by Mrs. W. J. Polson. She was particularly interested, she said, in the exchange mart run by the Stratford branch. The work of the Stratford officers had been a big help to other branches, particularly to the Wanganui branch, which was endeavouring to run an exchange on similar lines. The following officers were elected: — President, Mrs. M. G. Trotter; vice-presi-dent, Mesdames Burton, Strack, Walker and Cleland; honorary secretary, Mrs. G. Lamplough; Press correspondent, Miss Blair; social convener, Mrs. Ireland; tea convener, Mrs. Mayor. Mrs. Polson was elected an honorary vice-president.