WOMEN’S DIVISION.

Wairarapa Age, 23 August 1934, Page 5

WOMEN’S DIVISION.

MEETING OF PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. PRESENT AND PROPOSED ACTIVITIES. A meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Council of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was held yesterday. There were present: Mesdames C. C. Jackson (Provincial President), W. A. Tate, W. Wiggins and R. Beu (Greytown), Roy Burch, C. R. Holmes andi Miss N. Holmes (Martinborough), Mesdames E. Standen, K. Reid, Allen and Miss Renall (Carterton), Meedames Arch, dark, R. M. Wakely and D. G. Dodson (Featherston), N. R. Grant, J. Aslin and G. Smith (Pahautea), M. A. McKay (Puketoi), A. M. Giehard and S. A. Meech (Pongaroa), E. H. Dagg (Ihuraua),. J. M. Laing and L. Meredith (Tinui), and W. James (Masterton), provincial secretary. A number of apologies were received from other branches.

Mrs. Beu congratulated Mrs. Jackson on having been made a life member of the Division' by the Dominion Conference, and spoke in glowing terms of her invaluable work and of the appreciation with which it wasi regarded. These remarks were seconded by Mrs. Clark, who also congratulated the Provincial Council on having Mrs. Jackson -as president. Mrs, Clark said she was sure that excellent progress would be made under Mrs. Jackson’s capable leadership. In returning thanks, Mrs. Jackson said that to her mind the two outstanding things which had emerged from the Dominion Conference were the decision to send a delegate (Mrs. T. R. Barrer) to the Pan-Pacific Conference now sit-* ting at Honolulu, and the— use more milk campaign. She urged that they should set to work and see what could be done to forward the campaign to increase the consumption of milk. This question was discussed at length and it was left to Mrs. Jackson to secure the co-operation of the Farmers’ Union, dairy farmers, transport representatives and institutions such as hospitals and schools in activities in which all branches of the Division would take part.

Mrs. James reported that in the last two months eighteen housekeepers had been supplied in the Wairarapa, for varying periods, most of them being called upon urgently in of sickness. Of those assisted, eight had paid the full wages of the housekeepers and others had paid from 5s to 20s a week, leaving the balance to be paid by the branches and the council. The demand for housekeepers shows at present no sign of slackening and at times is met with considerable difficulty. It was observed that the Division required its housekeepers to maintain a very high standard and insisted that they must be treated accordingly in the homes to which they were sent. They were not domestic servants, but housekeepers, competent to carry on the working activities of homes, in which mothers were laid aside by sickness. In most instances there was no cause for complaint, but there were others in which the responsible standing of the housekeepers was not recognised as it should be.

It was proposed that the Division should organise a field day, at .sohie time during the summer, when speakers would be invited to deliver addresses on rural and other subjects of interest. Effect probably will be given to the proposal in January next. A sample box of handcraft articles made by disabled returned soldiers in Christchurch was received, the articles including excellent examples of marquetry, suede and other leather work. All the branches are to be invited to send in orders. A numbqr of interesting and helpful demonstrations were given, by Mrs. Wilton of papier mache work, by Mrs. Watson of tinsel work and by Mrsn James of poulticing. The visiting delegates were entertained at luncheon.