WOMEN’S DIVISION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 21

WOMEN’S DIVISION

SOUTH CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE

At a meeting of the South Canterbury Executive of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, Mrs B, E. Evans presided over a large attendance of delegates, including Mesdames Burdon, Buchan and Meyer vice-presi-dents.

The president stated that since last meeting Mrs Wilson, Dominion President, had visited the district, and Mr W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, had also been round several branches. As a member of the National Council she had been one of a deputation which had waited on the Hon P. Frazer on matters affecting women and children, and she had also attended the meeting when Mr T. N. Lambourne, director of Education had given an address on “Intermediate schools.”

A letter was received from South Canterbury Farmers’ Union regarding representation at executive meetings. It was decided that the president and a member w’ould attend on days when no meeting of the Division executive was being held. Mrs Dale, Maungati, was elected to attend the September meeting.

Miss V. MacMillan, Otago, University, advised that she would be in South Canterbury during October along with Miss Apple (America). AU groups were advised to get their meetings arranged fiet In with the visit. The Country Girls’ Educational week is to be held from September 21 to 25 inclusive. The Division is again inviting girls of the Women’s Instiute to partiepate in this activity. After considerable discussion the following remit was passed: “That owing to the large number of cases of bovine tuberculosis we recommend that all cows be examined in order to have a pure milk supply.” Mrs Adam, Albury, proposed that the remit be forwarded to the Farmers’ Union for Its consideration.—Carried.

It was unanimously decided to join with the Farmers’ Union and make up a picnic party to Lincoln College in November.

Mrs Evans said that the Dominion Conference had grown in numbers as the organisation had done, making it a difficult matter to get a hall large enough to hold delegates in comfort. Mrs Frazer, wife of the Minister of Education opened the conference and showed in her address that she was by no means a stranger to the work of farmers’ wives, and was very much in sympathy with them in their efforts to secure better educational facilities in the country districts. Mrs Lee Martin, a farmer’s wife, said that she had been a house-keeping secretary, and fully understood the work this activity entailed. During the year 1292 posts had been filled by housekeepers. In 504 cases wages had been subsidised from the community chest. ,Xn all £1561 was spent during the year oh philanthropic work.

Mr Dixon, Geraldine, who attended the July conference, said that after hearing the difficulties of some executies in other parts of New Zealand, she felt rather proud of the way South Canterbury was organised, and of the co-operation which existed in all activties.

A motion of sympathy was passed to Mrs P. R. Talbot and Mrs Hines in their bereavements.