WOMEN’S DIVISION OF THE FARMERS’ UNION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 16 (Supplement)

WOMEN’S DIVISION OF THE FARMERS’ UNION

NOTES OP THE WEEK. The topic of the hour: The Tasman has been crossed! The Division joined in the welcome to these heroes of the air and the following telegram was sent to Squadron-Leader KingsfordSmith:— 4 * Heartiest congratulations to you and your comrades from all members of the Women’s Division N.Z. Farmers’ Union.” It is hoped that Mrs Evans, general secretary in New Zealand, of the League of Nations, will be present at the “Community Tea” which the Wanganui branch is giving on Wednesday, September 19. The Waverley branch already numbers forty-two members. Great preparations are being made for a “Bring and buy” afternoon on Friday, September 28. There are three of our emergency housekeepers working in the Waverley district and all giving great satisfaction. Hence the enthusiasm.

A large attendance of members of the Wanganui branch is called for Wednesday next, September 19. The usual monthly business, an address by Archdeacon Creed-Meredith on “The League of Nations,” and a community tea are the orders for the day. A community tea is a great idea—members bring themselves, their friends, and —“a basket.”

Miss Howard (Marton) has been appointed Dominion treasurer-secretary of the Women ’s Division and will take office on Monday next. In addition to Miss Howard’s excellent qualifications she is a member of the Marton branch and is an enthusiastic believer in the Bush Nurse ami Housekeeper Auxiliary, the Book Club, tho IVomen’s Exchange, and all the other extension work of the “W.D. ”

Mrs Schroeder, Kai Valley’s secretary and delegate, returned from conference full of enthusiasm for the division. As a result, at the last monthly meeting, it was hoped that the services of one of our housekeepers would be available in the near future. In order to encourage gardening —especially kithen gardening of which there is a great lack in th? district—it was derided to have a competition among the children with two prizes of ten shillings each for the boy or girl who can show the best collection of vegetables in their own gardens in March next. Another proposed activity is the formation of sewing classes for the junior members, where dressmaking—particularly cutting out, lifting and finishing off —will be taught. Kai Valley has also solved another difficulty. If members cannot come to meetings the meetings must go to the members and arrangements have been made that such will be held each month, so that members in the outlying districts will be enabled to attend, at least, a percentage of meetings in the year. Good work Rai Valley!

Mrs J. Cocker (Eltham branch) presided over a good attendance at the last monthly meeting. It was decided to hold over decision for establishing nursing classes as the north Taranaki Division was holding district classes, and it was posible that onie arrangement could be made to ccure the services of the nurse from the north. As it was the first meeting after conference members were naturally anxious to hear their delegate's report. Mrs Cocker also spoke and great interest was shown in the proceedings and business of conference. Mrs Cocker dealt particularly with remits which had been considered at conference. As some members were anxious to know the arrangements of the Wellington dental clinics, the president gave a most lucid explanation of their working and urged all members to give their chtylren the advantages of the nurse’s services. She assured members that arrangements in Eltham were unsurpassed anywhere and were working most satisfactorily.

Raetihi’s monthly meeting was held at Mrs R. Sigley’s house, the president (Mrs Houghton) in the chair. The secretary (Mrs Craik) read her report of conference which was followed by a discussion on a W.D. Rest Room being opened in Raetihi. It was decided to bring the matter up at the general meeting and in the meantime enquiries were to be made about securing a suitable room. Mrs Sigley and Mrs Meyers were the hostesses and tho sum of 4s was put by •or the general fund; a donation of os was also made to tho community chest.

Springtime suggestions for branch discussions:—My favourite recipe; Short cuts in house-cleaning; Round table talk—How to care for young chicks; Gardening (a) where select plot, size, and how to prepare it, (b) what seeds produce best results? (3) best ways of fighting garden pests. At the (provisional) Advisory Committee’s meceting in Palmerston North on Friday, Sept. 7, there were present: Mrs W. J. Polson (chair), Mrs .Toll (Haveloc. North) and Mrs Lilburn (Wanganui) vice-presidents; Mrs T. Stewart (Ohingaiti), Miss Polson (Wanganui), Mrs Cocker (Eltham); the acting Dominion secretary, Mrs MacCorkindale (Feilding), and by invitation Miss Howard (Marton). Apologies were received from Mrs C. C; Jackson (Dominion treasurer) and Mrs Neiderer (Southland). The main business was the consideration of applications tor the position of treasurer-secretary and which resulted in the appointment of Miss Howard. After some discussion it was resolved that Wanganui should be the official headquarters and a sub-committee consisting of Mrs Lilburn, Mrs Sommerville, Miss Polson, Mrs Wickham, and Mrs Brice bo set up to make enquiries re securing suitable accommodation. Questions of finance and policy were dealt with. The hon. secretary was instructed to forward all books to Mr Arcus (Wellington), so that a detailed system of book-keeping might be drawn up and thus facilitate the work of the incoming secretary. (This was agreed upon at conference). The hon. secretary was also asked to write the Masterton branch re prize-money for badge designs, Mrs Polson, Mrs Duncan Simpson, Mrs Schench and Miss Janet Lilburn having supplied the ideas in their designs from which the present badge had been evolved.