WOMEN’S DIVISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1944, Page 4

WOMEN’S DIVISION

MASTERTON BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING REST HOME OPENED -• IN NELSON. SCHEME TO SAVE BUTTER FOR ENGLAND. The annual meeting of the Masterton branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was held on Wednsday, Mrs C. C. Jackson presiding. Motions of sympathy were passed to the relatives of Mrs R. S. Gerrand and Miss H. Card, Featherston, and to those parents who had lost sons in Italy, or whose sons had been wounded on active service.

Members expressed their appreciation of the good state of the finances, the increased membership, and the increased interest in all the branch work during the year. The election of officers resulted:— Patron, Mrs H. Morrison; president, Mrs C. C. Jackson; treasurer. Mrs C. H. McKenzie; secretary, Miss E. Bennett; vice-presidents, Mesdames F. H. Hewitt and A. Milne; committee, Mesdames Schofield (Te Wharau), Emery, Fetch, J. Donald (Bideford); delegates to Wairarapa Provincial Council. Mesdames Barrer and Fetch; delegate to W.W.S.A., Mrs Fetch; delegates to Red Cross Society, Mesdames McLean and W. James; delegate to Patriotic Committee, Mrs A. Milne. Mrs N. R. Barrer gave’an interesting address on the opening of “Melrose,” the rest home in Nelson. Over 3000 people were nresent to hear Colonel Adams’s address on the handing over and opening of the home, which was given by Mrs Adams and himself to the country women of New Zealand. A letter is being sent to Mrs Noel Adams, expressing sympathy with her in her illness. It was decided to accept the Coordinating Committee’s offer of the Adult Country Education Dressmaking Tutor, who would be available in August for grouping classes for dressmaking. The president brought forward a suggestion that butter coupons should be collected from those who did not make use of them and that butter should be purchasd, to be sent to England, where it is so urgently needed. She urged those making butter to send as much as possible in to grocers to be remitted by a firm already appointed. This butter could be bought by the public, leaving more factory butter available to be sent overseas. The annual report stated that many parcels of woollen comforts had been forwarded to the men of the Merchant Navy. Donations had been made to the Red Cross Society and the Patriotic Society for soldiers’ parcels. Hundreds of army garments had been repaired during the year. The branch had raised £ll5 for the division's rest home. The housekeepers were doing excellent work. Thanks were expressed to all who helped during the year.