WOMEN'S DIVISION.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17412, 26 May 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

WOMEN'S DIVISION.

THE DOINGS OF MANY BRANCHES.

The third annual Dominion Conference of the Women's Division will take place in Wellington on Tuesday, July 24. Our own branch will hold its usual, monthly meeting on Friday, June 1 in Mr Gilbert's office, Railway Buildings, commencing at 1.30 p.m. A good attendance of members is hoped for.

The Te Kuili branch is working for a rest-room while that of Oakura has started a course of home nursing and first aid lectures which are well attended.

We regret to report that Mr Duxfleld has not yet made a complete recovery from his recent painful accident and we extend our sympathies to him and to our president in this matter. Ilunterville celebrated its first birthdav by giving an "at home !' which was largely attended. Our Dominion president, was present and in her .speech she congratulated the branch upon the result of its year's work. Continuing she said " Someone has said that the Women's Division has hit Ihe popular taste and the public imagination." It certainly has but there is more in the work than that else recognition would not have come so quickly. If our work had not been worth while Lady Alice Fcrgusson would not have broken her rule and consted to be our patron nor would the public have given so freely to the community chest. Government would not have placed the Women's Division on the estimates thereby recognising the national importance of our work. Representatives would not have come to us from Canada, New South Wales and Victoria to inquire into the working of our Bush Nurse and Housekeeper Auxiliary and

Mrs Taylor would not be taking a report of our social work to lay before .the delegates at the Pan-Pacific Conference at Honolulu in August, next, Again discussions on " Daylight Saving " come to the fore and we read some school medical officers reporls of its effect on the general welfare of the children under their care. One states: "'Primers especially benefit as they spend the hottest part of the day out of doors in a garden or park/' What of the liny lots in the country wjio are condemned lo spend Ihe holiest part of the day trudging home along a dusty country road and arriving home too exhausted Lo think of play? Another reads: "There has been an increase in regular attendance in schools during Ihe summer-time period." in our district parents were forced lo allow their small children a frequent rest day home from school In Counteract the effect, of Ihe early rising ami shorter nours of sleep. One is lemptcd lo wonder it school medical officers know much about country schools and country conditions. At. lengthy intervals they make visits 1.0 a country school and inspect a very small proportion of the children when the whole school could have been put through in a short lime. Many country parents, feel that this scheme which promised so much has been somewhat of a disappointment..