WOMEN’S DIVISION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 257, 29 October 1937, Page 5

WOMEN’S DIVISION

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING There was a large attendance of delegates and visitors at the quarterly meeting of the Wellington Central Provincial Council of the W.D.F.U. held in the Druids’ Hall, Marton on Tuesday. At the official table were Mrs. Drake (Dominion president), Mrs. D. Simpson (president, Marton), Mrs. Colquhoun (secretary, Wellington Central), Mrs. Howell (treasurer), Mrs. Pearman (Mangaweka), Mrs. Buchanan (Feilding), Mrs. Lodge (Kimbolton-Kiwitea), Mrs. Aidworth (Hunterville), Mrs. Field (Palmerston North), Mrs. F. Howie (Taihape), Miss Hazel Johnson (Massey College/. All representatives were warmly welcomed by the president, Mrs. Duncan Simpson, who then introduced Mrs. Drake to the meeting. Apologies were received from Mesdames Pickford, Green, Hammond, Olliver, Buchanan, N. Blunden, Pearce and McHardy. Members stood in silence as a motion of sympathy to all who had suffered loss since the last meeting. The resignation of Mrs. Low as press correspondent was received with regret. A vote of thanks was passed to her for her services. The Wellington Central Provincial had been invited to explain to the Dominion Office how it was organised. Mrs. Field was left to attend to this matter. A post-card had been received from Mrs. J. A. Harris conveying greetings. Delegates were present from: Apiti, Bonny-Glen, Makirikiri, Feilding, Halcombe, Kakariki, Hunterville, Koeke, Marton, Palmerston, Pukeroa, RataPutorino, Taihape, Turakina, Tutae-nui-Halcombe, Utiku, Ohingaiti, Mangaweka, Kimbolton-Kiwitea, Motouiti, Rangiwahia and Rongotea. A most instructive lecture was given by Miss Hazel Johnson, of the Home Science Department, Massey College, Mrs. S. A. Rhodes, said Miss Johnson, had left money to Victoria College to benefit all country women and so the Sarah Ann Rhodes Fellowship had been established. The W.D.F.U. was invited to contribute to the scheme which was offering something different to all members. Miss Johnson had five provinces to cover, which was rather difficult to cope with, and which made contacts rare. She hoped through the W.D.F.U. to rectify this to a certain degree. Her correspondence bureau was open to all and was a means of keeping in touch with people who could be given authentic information on all home science subjects. There should be more construction in our programme towards a goal. In every well-balanced women’s organisation, home-making was the most important thing and should be striven for. A certain amount of time should be devoted to home science, home economics, dressmaking and such subjects, and it was hoped to include these in the W.D.F.U. programme for the year. By co-operation with the department, Miss Johnson’s alm was to establish leader-training schools. Representatives of groups were to go to her for a few days’ intensive instruction on a given subject. Local talent could thus be trained and could return to their groups and give first-class demonstrations. Knowledge could thus be passed on in their own districts and benefits thus gained. It was to be aimed to interest the younger girl along home science lines —train them in cooking, buying, sewing, apt selection, etc. Miss Johnston’s services were free to all women's established organisations or to any woman who asked.

Miss Johnson went on to explain the box system. This covers all subjects medical, as well as home science. These boxes are sent out to organisation and contain full instructions. There are 15 lectures, typewritten, in each box on a certain subject and full illustrative material. For the sum of Is per member, per year, any group could obtain as many boxes on any number of subjects during the year. Thanks were extended to Miss Johnson for her apt description of the system. Sundry Remits A remit that donations from branches to provincials should be included in the Dominion lists at the end of each year was carried. Another remit, that headquarters be asked to consider the necessity of supplying duplicate receipt books to branch secretaries and treasurers, was sent forward. An exceptionally important rehiit to the effect that, while appreciating the fact that classes for retardate pupils had been started in the cities under the jurisdiction of the Education Department it was felt that some endeavour should be made to obtain the establishment of small hostels to make it possible for a limited number of country children to have the opportunity of attending these classes, was sent back to branches for full discussion. Members were urged to discover how this would affect children in their own districts. Another remit, that more equipment be available to country schools which were too remote to be consolidated, was held over. A remit, that Dr. Butchers’ suggestion re Government correspondence school lessons be discussed was held over. The suggestion that when far away branches are not represented at the provincial, one or two delegates be asked to write and give their impressions and also an account of the meeting, was carried. Preliminary arrangements were made for the girls’ educational week to be held in Palmerston North in May. The treasurer’s report and balancesheet were read by Mrs. Howell.

Finances were discovered to be in a sound condition. In the last eleven weeks the housekeeping secretary, Mrs. Field, had sent assistance to 43 of the 48 applicants. Miss Matheson, the hospital visitor, had called on 32 patients and jam, books and magazines had been distributed; 137 visits had been made in all. Thanks were extended to branches that had made donations and sent literature. As far as organisation went, a branch had been formed at Rongotea. Mrs. F. Howie and Miss Matheson gave their reports on their meeting with the commission investigating maternity welfare. Dominion’s President’s Address Mrs. Drake (the Dominion president) was the recipient of a bouquet j from the hands of the delegates from ’ Rongotea and addressed the meeting, i She was very pleased to be present at such an enthusiastic gathering, and congratulated the council on the work that was being done. It was pleasing to see so many juniors present, and the firm financial position was most commendable, especially as the council ran its own house-keeping scheme and also sent funds to headquarters. The council, said Mrs. Drake, was to be congratulated on their formation of new branches, but there was still scope for the organisation of more. In Otago the W.D.F.U. and Farmers’ Union were in close contact and worked more or less together. It would be pleasing to see a move made in that direction in this district. In the case of domestic help, said Mrs. Drake, something definite must be done. All country women were too hard worked, and some time should be devoted to other things. She stressed I the bad effect the over-work of young mothers had nationally. Too often children had to be put aside and we were paying for this to-day as many of our social problems displayed. At present domestic work is graded

low in the social scale. This should not be so, and a move should be made to put it on a proper footing. Mrs. Drake suggested that compulsory domestic training should take place after a child had left the sixth standard. When properly trained the girls could be given a certificate which would enable them to command proper hours and wages. The social standing of these girls in the home would be raised. Even those leading ordinary business lives would benefit from this training and the morale of the nation would be raised. New Zealand was such a beautiful country and had such facilities that her people should be second to none in the world. Mrs. Drake gave an interesting description of her tour of the Norm Island and the meetings she had attended. She concluded by voicing her i appreciation of the work done by all ‘ people in executive positions, especially secretaries. Mrs. Simpson thanked Mrs. Drake for her most delightful talk. Pan-Pacific Ideals Miss Barrer, who attended the PanPacific Conference as delegate from the W.D.F.U., was then introduced by the president. Before describing the conference Miss Barrer gave an outline of its history and objects. The Fan-Pacific Women’s Association was established in 1928 to promote friendship and understanding amongst women of all Pacific regions for the study and betterment of existing social conditions. From that early beginning that work had gone on and expanded till now it had become a power for good, not only in the Pacific, but also in the world. The promotion of friendship and understanding led in the natural course of events to the holding of many social functions during the conference, in addition to its ordinary work. The day for many delegates began at the very early hour of 7 or 8.30 a.m., not ending until the small hours of the morning. These were brought

about by early morning breakfasts among the different delegates or by delegation meetings at 8.30, followed at 9.15 by the usual round-table conference, of which there were two in session morning and afternoon. The general theme of the P.P.W.A. was “practical ways and means of promoting peace,” and to that end, eight subjects were discussed, being: Youth movements for peace; traffic in arms; traffic in women and children, socialised health, population pressures, labour standards, development of public opinion, and adjustments of education, and a display of educational films at the University of British Columbia and many lectures of various types. At the end of the conference it was found that the countries bordering the Pacific were in agreement on most points and that the exchange of ideas between delegates would enable them to go back whence they came with new plans and greater knowledge, ready to be put at the disposal of their various countries for the promotion oi peace in their particular corner of the world. As far as the social life of the conference was concerned, functions were many and varied: A dinner and dance at the home of Senator Mcßae; a luncheon given by the Women’s Canadian Club, another given by the Board of Trade, tea and garden party at the home of Mrs. Austin Taylor, a banquet given by the Government of British Columbia, a drive to the North Shore, a function at the Peace Arch, a tea at the Mandarin Gardens, a folK dance festival, and a service at Christchurch Cathedral. Apart from this social whirl, delegates were conducted to all places of interest in and about Vancouver. Miss Barrer concluded by expressing her appreciation of the kindness and hospitality of the Canadian people and briefly outlined the various movement to-day in England towards world peace. The meeting passed a hearty vote of thanks to Miss Barrer for her most interesting talk.