Country Life Interests

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 16 (Supplement)

Country Life Interests

a A page devoted to the interests of the Country Women of the () Waikato, and in particular to advancing and recording the activities of (] V those Vwo great national organisations, the Women's Institutes and the v j Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union.

IMPORTANCE OF HOME LIFE LET’S LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING SAYS THE PROVOST OF PORTSMOUTH (The Very Rev. E. N. Porter Goff.) That takes a bit of doing nowadays, you may well say ! But we must try to do it, however hard it may be. We’re in this war now and, being in it, we must win. Each one of us can make our contribution to victory by keeping cheerful. We’re not helping our country or ourselves by looking on the black side and glooming about everything. So don’t let’s go round saying how dreadful everything is. Everyone knows all about that. Let’s talk about the things that may raise other people’s spirits—not depress them. Let’s look for the silver lining. And it’s there, you know, even in these dark days. For example, this war has already made each one of us rich. Oh yes, I know that sounds nonsense, for if we’re thinking of money and food and nice clothes, then we’re all poorer already and may be even worse off before we’ve finished. But in spite of that we’re all richer than we were before, in the things that really matter. Times like these bring out the very best in both men and women. There is no place for petty qualities—little jealousies, meannesses, selfishness. These are submerged, and better and stronger qualities rise to the top. This will happen to you: “She’s splendid ! I didn’t know she had it in her.” That’s glowing praise and worth hearing, isn’t it ? Home Has Become More Dear And here’s another bright gleam. . . . The things which we feel are threatened—the familiar things—have become more precious to us. Your home, for example, is more precious to you now than it was before. lam sure you have already discovered that. You’ve been taking it all for granted perhaps until now. You can’t take it for granted any longer, can you ? There is hardly a household in the country that the war has not even now affected. Home has, therefore, become more dear, and we are going to try and hold on to it as long as we can. If this war has taken your menfolk away from home. I am sure they feel like that. They must often think longingly of the home they left behind, and in their thoughts idealise it. They think of happy evenings with you, by the fire or in the garden. ... Of games with the children. ... Of a cosy room, with bright curtains, a comfortable chair, a pipe, a newspaper. And you are always there. For this picture that a man thinks of so fondly, has been created by you, and he is realising this more and more every day. He thinks of home as even better than it really is, and so he misses it the more. Women often feel that their work is completely taken for granted. Housework, cooking, washing-up—it has to be done, and no one gives any praise or thanks for it. But that’s all changed. Your men know now that without you there is no home. So there’s your chance, you wives and mothers. See that your menfolk are not disappointed when they come home. Begin to make your home what ideally it ought to be. There’s a bit of National Service quite as worth doing as any you may find to do outside. Some of you, perhaps, have not been too happy about the quality of your home life in the past. Maybe your relations with your husband, or with your sons, have fallen short of what you felt they ought to be. Here, surely, is your chance. The new conditions of life, to which all of us have to adjust ourselves, give you a great opportunity of making a new start in your home relationships. In these days ©o one can afford to be ungenerous or petty. Your husband or your son will surely come half-way to meet you. Don’t be afraid to be the first to make the generous gesture and the fresh start. Nobody—especially in times like these—will be so foolish as to give a rebuff to real love, one of the best things that is left to us. And in any case, real love will be willing to take the risk. Be Understanding and Sympathetic So I appeal to the wives and mothers to be even more understanding, even more sympathetic. Well, you say, where is the silver lining there ? Surely, you don’t need to ask that. It is in these circumstances that your great opportunity of homemaking comes. And if you make the best of that opportunity you will have your reward in a more lovely and satisfying relationship with those you love best. Surely there is your silver lining. It really is there and you can find it. You’ll find it the easier, I think, if you believe in God and if you can pray. I had a letter the other day from a man who served in the last war. He said he felt sick with fear when he saw-another war looming up over him again. And then he remembered a little prayer he had learnt. He went on repeating it until it really began to mean something to him and helped him to get his balance again. A faith like that, and perhaps a simple little prayer, would help you, not only with your fears, if you have them, but with'something which I, for one, find more troublesome. It is so difficult not being able to plan for the future as we used to do. And how much—we realise now—we used to live’ in the future. The holidays we planned—the little new house, or car—the new dress, the new carpet—all little pleasures to come, and as much joy in looking forward to them as in the final day of possession. Now it seems as if a blind had been drawn down, making a complete black-out of the future. But faith can lift that blind. If we believe in God we can go on with our work and make our plans, believing that what we begin here will be continued hereafter, if it is worth continuing—lf it is worth continuing—That’s the test, isn’t it ? This war will destroy many material things. If your life were to depend wholly upon them you might lose heart. But you have a spiritual side. The love that you have fer your husband and your children is a spiritual thing. The hatred that has brought the clouds of war looming over us all is only for the moment. The war will end. But the love that makes a heme is of God, and will remain when the war has been long forgotten. . . . There’s your silver lining.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

PIRONGIA The September meeting of the Pirongia Women’s Institute ,\vas held in the library, Mrs Barry presiding over a good attendance of members. Arrangements for the annual show to be held in November were carried a step further. It was decided that all surplus funds resulting from the show were to be handed to the Red Cross committee. The roll call was “A famous man in history,” and proved very interesting. Mrs Mead was the successful competitor for three best pikelets. It was decided to send Christmas par- |' cels for the troops overseas to the ! depot in Hamilton, and Red Cross j work was distributed. Hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Rowan and Moeller. , MORRIN S VILLE

The monthly meeting of the Mor- ; rinsville Women’s Institute was held • in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, ; September 11. The president, Mrs i Pole, presided over a large attend- j ance of members. Mrs Hindman j and Mrs Stevens were proposed as J new members. After the conclu- j sion of the business, proceedings were taken over by the mSjnbers’ committee, Mrs Cottingham and Mrs Wiles, who provided the entertainment for the evening. The Institute choir rendered two songs, “Ye Shepherds Tell Me” and “Minuet” and a very amusing sketch was acted by Mrs Foster and Mrs Lewis. Mrs Adamson sang two songs, and amusing elocutionary items were given by Miss June Gifford. A competition was Avon by Mrs V. Nicholson. Supper was served by the hostesses. Parcels of clothing were contributed in large numbers for the refugees, and also numerous knitted vests for the Campbell Johnstone Ward, Hamilton. Competitions resulted as follows: —Baby’s knitted vest, Mrs A. Allatt; jar of marmalade, Mrs Boles; Bowl of flowers, Mrs Close.

WOMEN’S DIVISION

OHAUPO BRANCH The Ohaupo branch of the Women’s Division held its monthly i meeting in the social hall, recently, when there was a fair attendance. Mrs Vickers, president, presided, and welcomed as guests of the afternoon Mrs F. J. Ryburn, Dominion vicepresident, and Mrs Neil, proA'incial president. After the usual business Avas disposed of Mrs Neil gaA r e an interesting and detailed report of the Dominion Executive meeting held in Wellington. Mrs Ryburn spoke of the definite object of the Women’s DiA'ision Avhich was to guard the and general Ave Ll-being of | country women and children and I seek to better conditions for the j back-country family. She also j spoke of the Women’s Auxiliary War j Service and the part the Division ! Avas playing in increased production i and Avar efforts. | The needle-work competition re- | suited in 18 garments coming in for ; the patriotic box. The afternoon’s entertainment Avas in the hands of 1 Mrs Cately.