W.D.F.U.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 104, 4 May 1934, Page 2

W.D.F.U.

EXECUTIVE MEETING. The Provincial Executive meeting of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was held in the W.D.F.U. rooms on Wednesday afternoon, and was presided over by Mrs. A. 11. McLean (provincial president). The meeting opened with the reciting of the Creed. Apologies were received from Miss Baker (Wanga-ehu\ and the Baetihi and Ohakune branches. The minutes of the previous meeting wore taken as read. The president spoke on matters relating to the hnus-ekeeping scheme, and the subject was discussed by the members. The annual report was read by Mrs. McLean, and was as follows: •‘I have the honour and pleasure tc present to you the third annual report of the Wanganui Provincial Executive. The quarterly meetings have been very well attended, and many matters of in terest were discussed, proving helpful to all. A very interesting and success ful interprovincial conference was held in Marton last June, and attended by a large number of members, The remits for the conference s-ent in by branches represented there were fully discussed and put to the meeting. The Marton branch was most hospitable, providing morning and afternoon teas, and lunch for the visitors. “ Housekeepers were sent into twenty homes, and were very much appreciated by the employers. This was a smaller number than that supplied last year, due not to a smaller demand, but to the difficulty in iinding enough housekeepers of the standard required by the di vision. “Our thanks are 'hie to our efficient secretary, Miss Cole, and to the delegates who have attended so regularly through the year, also to local members and the Wanganui branch for the ever welcome cup of tea.” In moving the adoption of the report, Mrs. Wickham paid tribute to Mrs. McjLean for her splendid work, ami moved a hearty vote of thanks to the president and also to the committee. The following remit.-' were dealt with:— ‘‘That this provincial again recommends that interprovincal conference form part of the constitution of the W.D.F.U. It also recommends that such conferences be held at some suitable time before lif Dominion conference in order that 'remits may be discussed and the work of the conference thus lightened.” “That now that the Countrywoman is printed by us, our badge should be shown more clearly and in every issue there should be printed the Dominion president’s name and address, head office addres, ami ‘Alms and Objects oi the W.D.F.U.’ ”

“That a circular similar to one shown be printed in large quantitiv<, and used by branches at their meetings.” The election of officers took place, ami resulted as follows: —I’resident, Mrs. A. IL AlcLean (re-elected); vicepresidents, Mrs. Ale .Earlane (Waverley), and Aliss Baker (Wangaehu); committee, Alesdames Read (Ohakune), ArcGregor, .McLeod (Okiza), and Sommer-vill-e (Raetihi), with power to add to the number; secretary and housekeeping secretary combined, Airs. J. U. Wickham. Aliss Cole was appointed delegate to the forthcoming conference. Afternoon tea was served, the green clothed tables being bright with vases of autumn flowers. The Bridges Trio contributed several charming items which were very much enjoyed. Among those present were: Airs. A. AlcPhail (president of the Wanganui branch of the W.D.F.U.), Airs. J. C. Wickham (Dominion vice-president), Miss Uole (secretary), Alesdames 8. |Scott. D. L. Blyth, W. D. Carson, E. J. Davies, Preston, Gray (Okoia), Bailey (Forded), Blair (Alaxwell), McFarlane (Waverley), Higgie, Rowling, Harris (Turakina), V. Blyth, J. Blyth, J. Butclrer, J. D. Anderson, W. Birch (Westmere), A'. B. Willis. Bullock-Doug-las, Tarrant - , G. Sutherland, Calders, Lanii-itt, T. Williams; Alisses Jordon, Meads (Westmere), Kennedy (Waverley), Brownlie, J. Strachan, Young. Life in Papua. At the close of tire business part of the W.D.F.U. meeting on Wednesday, Mrs. F. Williams, a visitor from Papua, gave a brief and informative talk on the condition sof living in khat country. ’’Samurai, where we live, is a place of only 68 acres, right in the tropics, and it i.s always summer,” said Mrs. Williams. “In ’the evenings we are plunged into sudden darkness at 6 p.m., for the daylight does not go gradu ally as it does in New Zealand.” In regard to supplies of food, the speaker said that a boat calk’d once a month and brought frosh food. This means much calculation on the part of those who keep house, particularly if one has visitors to eater for. Fresh meat was brought twice a week from another is land, also milk, which came by launch, the milk always having, for variom reasons, to be boiled before use. “AVe can buy all sorts of tinned food there, even butter conics in tins, and canned cream is the only kind we get.’ “This will seem stramge to people in this country, where the milk, cream and butt-er are of the very best,” said Airs. Wil liams, “bur. we learn to manage with tinned food. It is so hot in Papua that we use a lot of clothes and of course have ‘boys’ to do our work. There are cook boys, wash boys, etc., but sonictimes their help is of the doubtful kind. Once when engaging a wash boy. I asked him if he understood the work, and he replied, ’Yes missis me know whi-h calicos you no cook 'em and which calicos you cook ’em.’ 1 had mv doubts about him, bu't took hi- word for it that he understood.” said Mrs. Williams, “but you can imagine what I felt like on wash day when I saw one long line of clothes—not white, but a strange shade of pink. On making enquiries of my wash boy he informed me he had to put the red bath mat on top the clothes in the copper to protect them! Another time I found my nightdress starched instead of my frocks.” Other amusing experiences mentioned by Airs. Williams were the problems of making the cook boy ibderstand. At one meal the bov had put manil-a essence in 'the masked potatoes and once when entertaining an important visitor,

Airs. \\ illiams had purchased a special treat, a small cauliflower, which cost 3s 6dit Bhe had given the cook boy instructions how to prepare it, but when it came to table, she was horrified to find that instead of cooking the cauliflower whole, it had bc'en chopped up like parsley. Bometimes a fruit pie would be seasoned with pepper and salt instead of sugar, but an unenviable oxperienc'e was one that happened to the doctor who was entertaining a magistrate. In this ease tinned sausages were opened for a meal and the cook was instructed to heat them. os-e partaking of the sausages ♦. light they had a strange taste and the host asked the cook boy to bring in the tin and the cooking utensil in which ‘they had been heated. This the boy did, but with them he also brought a jar containing what was left of some zine ointm-ent, which the cook had taken from the medical supply box and used to fry the sausages in. “These are just a few of the problems with which we have to deal,” said Airs. Williams. There arc numerous insects, and books have to be taken down from the shelves once a week sometimes, other- ' wise they would soon be in a sad state, and hats and shoes grow green with mildew, as the climate is so damp. 'The speaker further described life in Papua and said that bananas, paw- ( paws, and mangoes grow in the gardens, but there was little of other fruit. Tomatoes and lettuce would grow if given i a great deal of care. Eggs are scarce and are usually 3s 6d a dozen. Fowls do not thrive if penned up, and if they are Jet out they have to be shepherded, otherwise they disappear. ( “It is marvellous the meals we have to contrive for tinned food,” said Airs. Williams, who also mentioned that it took six weeks to receive a reply to a letter. The members of the W.D.F.U. asked questions which were answered by the ' speaker, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for her interesting address