WOMEN’S DIVISION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 7

WOMEN’S DIVISION

SOUTH CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE 4: ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the South Canterbury Executive of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was held yesterday, Mrs B. E. Evans presiding over a large attendance. In a review of the year’s work, the president said that one of the most important happenings to South Island members was the appointment of Mrs W. H. Ward, of Lumsden, to the office of Dominion president. After touching on the many spheres of the Division’s work, Mrs Evans said, to her mind, the greatest task before them was to uphold the League of Nations. The Dominion president had asked that at least one address a year should be given on the work of the League. Mrs Evans referred to the problem of mental deficiency, which had been widely discussed at the Conference. The Division provided funds to keep four boys at Flock House for a year and also had supported the health camp movement. Mrs Evans expressed appreciation of the social side of the Division’s activities and concluded by thanking all members of branches for their work. Congratulations were conveyed to the new branches, Hazelburn, Maungati and Cannington and thanks extended to all who had assisted to make the work of the Division so successful. Annual Report. The secretary, Miss V. Kingston, stated in her report that the Women’s Division had been steadily growing in membership. The total membership of 750 shows an increase of 150 over that of last year. Three new branches had been formed in this district, at Maungati, Hazelburn, and Cannington, making a total of 12 branches. Executive meetings were held at intervals of two months throughout the year, and many interesting and helpful discussions took place on matters affecting the welfare of country women, and remits in this connection have been forwarded to the Dominion Executive for its consideration and support. A general reduction in electricity charges was made in June of last year which had been much appreciated. A special meeting of the Executive was held in June to give members the opportunity of meeting Dr Ada Paterson. Dr. McLaghlan and Dr. Philips, of the Department of Health, with Miss Garland, school nurse, and to learn the efforts made by the Department to raise the standard of health of school children throughout the Dominion. The matter of country schools receiving dental treatment also received attention, and we are pleased to say that through our endeavours several schools are now receiving treatment where hitherto they were not. The work of the service is essentially preventative, and for this reason the system has been adopted of commencing treatment at as early an age as possible and continuing it on a regular and systematic basis for a given number of years. In August of last year a Provincial Executive Committee was formed to deal with urgent matters which might be between our usual meetings, consisting of, Mesdames Evans, president; Buchan and Burdon, vicepresidents; Caird, Misses Oliver and Bitchener. It has been necessary to call this Committee together on two occasions. The Division now have three registered housekeepers, one casual, and one probationer, and most satisfactory reports have been received of their work. The Division has at last been successful in securing the services of a competent dressmaker. Miss Lemon has filled several engagements in this district, and can be thoroughly recommended to anyone requiring her services. A request was received from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for assistance from the Executive that branches of the Women’s Division throughout South Canterbury be asked to subscribe annually to this Association. The secretary then thanked the various branch presidents and secretaries who co-operated with the Provincial Office during the past year. The establishment of a Provincial Executive necessitated a certain amount of re-organisation, and the willingness of branches to assist was most gratifying. On the motion of Mesdames Buchan and P. R. Talbot the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Election of Officers. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs B. E. Evans; vicepresidents, Mesdames W. Buchan, R. Burdon, J. O. J. Oliver; secretary and treasurer, Miss V. Kingston; Advisory Auxiliary, Mesdames R. B. Hart. Geddes, E. Harvey; emergency committee, Mesdames Evans, Buchan, Burdon, Caird, J. O. J. Olliver, Misses Olliver and Bitchener; representative on National Council of Wcmen, Mrs J. Hay hurst. Mrs Evans said that she had communicated with Mr G. Eenstead, a member of the Canterbury Education Board, regarding the inadvisability of changing teachers in country schools too often, and Mr Benstead had agreed to address the Branch at its June meeting. Suggested Cheese Campaign. Mrs J. O. J. Olliver, cn behalf of the Temuka Branch, advanced the following remit, which was carried: “That in consideration of the nutritive value of cheese, its cheapness, and its being one the chief products of South Canterbury, we recommend that . something in the nature of a “Use j More Cheese” campaign be taken up by the South Canterbury Branches of the Women’s Division. This, we consider, would be to the mutual advantage of producer and consumer.”