FARMERS’ UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18819, 6 March 1931, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION.

WOMEN’S DIVISION. A meeting of the Geraldine Branch of W.D.F. U. was held in the Presbyterian Hall on Wednesday. One new member was enrolled. The day of meeting was changed from the first sale day to the second sale day in the month. Correspondence was re-ad from Mrs C C. Jackson, Dominion President, thanking members for the beautiful parcels of clothes which had been sent direct to Dannevirke, the nearest town to Hastings and Napier. The people were wonderful there, providing meals for everyone who passed through, and thousands of cars and people passed to and fro from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight. Mrs Livingston (President of the Dannevirke Branch) washed anu dressed babies many of whom were born in the parks and camps at night on the night following the earthquake, and some of them had no clothes but were wrapped in any thing handy. The Women’s Division had done splendid work. Houses full of people were making and giving out clothes. In the country towns the W.D. had had charge of the depots. The organisation sent van and lorry loads of food-stuffs for the first few days., including hundreds of loaves of bread, cooked meat, cakes, jam. eggs, butter, cheese, bacon and ham. Members of branches went to Hastings to help in the Hospitals, and still the work was going on. The Women’s Division had offered (to the Government) to adopt all the orphans resulting from the earthquake disaster. They were helping settlers, who are growers of tomatoes and small fruits, to find markets for their produce. There was a very uneasy feeling at present, for (here were many who are trading on people’s good nature. One could not understand *-tne imposition, pillaging effrontery and greediness of a certain class, in face of such a fearful disaster befalling their comrades. The president reported that 14 large sacks and several smaller parcels had been despatched to Wellington Women’s Division, and telegrams had been received in acknowledgement. A vote of thanks, nronosed bv Miss McLeod and seconded by Mrs Parr, to Mr Morrison lor his assistance, to the C.F.C.A. for the material supplied for making new clothes, and to Mr M. McKenzie for conveying the parcels free of charge to the Oran Station was carried unanimously. Tea was served by Mesdames Gale and Burrows, and the exchange table which was open to the public was presided over by Mrs Curtin