W.D.F.U.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 256, 28 October 1937, Page 2

W.D.F.U.

VISIT OF DOMINION PRESIDENT A social afternoon organised by the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union provincial executive was held yesterday in the W.D. Rooms, when members of the various branches assembled in order to meet the Dominion president, Mrs. J. F. Drake. Also present in the gathering were the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Rogers) and representatives of other organisations, including the Victoria League, Townswomen s Guild, Women’s Institutes, also several memoers of the Farmers' Union. Mrs. A. H. McLean, the president of the provincial executive, extended a hearty welcome to Mrs. Drake and said they were very honoured to have her with them and asked the guest ol honour to accept a bouquet. Mrs. McLean also welcomed the visitors and members present. An apology was received from Mrs. J. B. Cotterill. The Mayor (Mr. W. J. Rogers), in welcoming Mrs. Drake on behalf of his fellow citizens, spoke of the line and wonderful work of the .Women’s Division. Mrs. Drake, on rising to address the gathering, was greeted with applause. She thanked the members for their welcome and especially appreciated the welcome from the Mayor. Mrs. Drake said she was glad to have the opportunity to meet the members of the various branches. Her tour through the North Island had given her a great deal of pleasure. But one thing she had noticed was that the Farmers' Union and the Women’s Division did not work so closely together in the North Island as they did in the South Island. The speaker, who imbued much humour in her short address, cited incidents that had happened at gatherings ol the Farmers’ Union and the Women's Division in the South. Mrs. Drake said she would like to see the Farmers’ Union and the Women’s Division in the North Island work more closely together. The Women’s Division had been a tremendous help to the Farmers' Union.

“In the old days the men were considered to have the only brains, but the women are the real driving power when there is anything to be done,” said Mrs. Drake, who continued by saying that she had the greatest opinion of the women folk. The women had put their men folk on a pedestal and no wonder the men had such a good opinion of themselves. The Farmers' Union carries on a great deal of work for the producers, and the Women's Division was behind them to push forward the interests of the country. Mrs. Drake then gave a very interesting account of their meetings in Berwick, Otago, and how the Farmers’ Union and Women’s Division worked together. She told of her visit to Dannevirke and other places, saying that she had been right up the island as far as Dargaville. Only once had she been in Wanganui before and that was some time ago. Mrs. Drake remarked on the wonderful country she had seen in the North Island and said she thought how fortunate we people are to be living amid such lovely surroundings. She spoke of the first pioneers wno had come to the south and planted trees, but the good work had not been com tinued by a later generation. The way the North Island people had planted such a lot of trees was to be commended. She thought trie North Island was very attractive. At the conclusion of her address, Mrs. J. C. Wickham proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker. They had been delighted to have the Dominion president with them and her address had been most helpful.

The president of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. T. Currie, on behalf of the Farmers' Union, extended a welcome to Mrs. Drake, and Mr. H. C. Jenkins, in voicing a welcome, made reference to the work of the organisation and the service it rendered to the country.

A short programme was given, including songs by Mrs. D. Preston, accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Greenwood, violin solo by Miss Missen and recitation by Mrs. A. D. Jenkins. A very dainty afternoon tea was enjoyed. The room had been attractively decorated for the occasion with vases of lovely flowers.