DOMINION PRESIDENT OF W.D.F.U. SPEAKS AT HASTINGS MEETING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 15, 11 October 1937, Page 10

DOMINION PRESIDENT OF W.D.F.U. SPEAKS AT HASTINGS MEETING

Members of the "Women's_ Division of the Farmers' TJnion in this distriot were privileged to have at tlieir meetintr on Saturday afternoon the Dominiou president of the W.D.F.U. Mrs. J. F. Drake, of Berwick, Otago, and tliough Mrs. Drake impressed on her listeners that she was not an orator but jnst a humble member of the W.D.F.U. who happened te have been made Dominioh. president, which responsibility she hoped to carry out faithfully, she. gave a talk which was listened to with the greatesfc interest and was enjoyed by every member present. Mrs E. Honoybun, the president of the Northern Hawke's Bay provincial Ifixecutive, welcomed the visitors and members, ainong whom were representatives, from the branches at Mangar tahi, Sherenden, Wairoa, Waipukurau and Clive Bank. The executive Secretary, Mrs. John Joll, read tbe apologies and Mrs. Drake was then introduced to the members. Mrs. Drake said that her tour tlirough the country was giving her great pleasure and that slie was glad to liave an opportunity to nxeet the menibers of tbe various branches and aiso their execqtives. lt was also her aim to meet all members individually and discuss tbejr troubles and difficulties. During her North Island tour Mrs, Drake kad spoken at very successful meetings of the W.D.F.U. at Masterton, Pahiatua and Dannevirke, and on Friday bad opened a new branch at Mangatahi. The speaker said that the memberB all knew the work which the W.D.F.U. dfd, but she jinpiressod upon uham tbat tliough much had been done there was still much to do. Mrs. Drake said that there were other organisations for country women, euoh as the women's institutes and that there was room for all to work side by side, though it was only right that the women wliose living was derived from the land shouid support the farmers by joining the W.D.F.U. whieh works very closely with tbe Farmers' Union. Sbe said tbat the women' s division now bad 20,000 members and bo vi'as a very strong body in the land. "Every intelligent women shouid fit berself to take an Interest in the questions of the day," said Mrs. Drake, "especially as many of these questjons vitally concern the women. Women who belong to the W.D.F.U. must be interested in the organisation and feel that it is worth devoting time and trouble yowards its success." Mrs. Drake discussed the question of flie claim whicb women have on the money which comea into the house. Sbe said how humiliating it was for any woman to have to h® constantly asking for money wben she had worked bard all her life, and it was only right that she shoqld have her sbare. She said that there were a few exceptione wliere women, spent foolisbly, but in most cases the women were capable of handling the money to the best advantage. Their hours of work were often longer than those of the men and it was only a modest request tbat they shouid have their share. The speaker said that the housekeeping scheme of the W.D.F.U. was being very much appreciated and she tqld of a, wonderful offer made by tho Hon. T. D. Burnett, Temuka, South Uanterbury, to give a house and 36 acres, probably to be increased later to 100 acres, for anyone who wished to be trained as a domestic help. Tlie problem of raising money to assist thi» scheme was being discussed by W.D.F.A. naembers in tbat district. "Domestic training for girls does not need to be elaborate," said the speaker. "All that is necessary is to teach them to cook a good, plain dinner, to keep the house clean and to do the washing and irouing. Tliree months' practical training would make a, girl capablq, and if she could then receive a certificate of some kind it would greatly assist tho raising of tlie status of domesticworkers. Tbe bigbest occupation for any woman to have is for her to be capable of keeping a comfortable hom.e and cook good meals and bring up her children well. If girls could receive some domestic training it would have far-reacbiug results in assisting them wben tliey later have their qwto bomes." Mrs. Drake spoko about the Employment Committee in Dunedin, who arranged to pay the girls 10/- a week to attend a kitclien ftfld dressinaking room wnere tliey were well trained and shown how to cook their owii meals and make their clothes, Girls who wero tfms trained soon obtained positions and the only ones who wero ieft were the few who did not want positions. Thq speaker said that she considered it most necessary tbat any training scbools shouid be houses and not ia>stitutions. "If tbe doniestio problem could be simplified many bard-working ivomen would have a httle moro time to sce tho beauties which surround us," qoutinued Mrs. Drake, "A libtle more time conld aiso be devoted to the pleasure oi reading. Great joy ca» be obtained by those who find oven a few rainutes a day to yead and begides this it is on© of the greatest means of education if worth-while books are chosen. The art o'f reading shouid be cultivated by all, because apart from tbe pleasure and education gained, it is a great boom in ald age." Tbe inside workings of the W.D.F.U. were discussed by Mrs. Drake, who advised the members always to conduct meetings according to tbe set rules, and sho also spoko about the liaiidling 1 of tbe money. Beforo concludiug sbe i urged every member to aim at being depeudable and reliabl© aud to bring up lier children to have truthfulness and lionestly in all their dolngs. At .the conclusion of bor talk Mn.

Drake answered many questions asked by Yarions, members and an informal bour was spent. meeting individual members. A vote of thanks to Mrs. Drake was proposed by Mrs, Todd, of the Wairoa branch and the. members ' sbowed very real appreciation, Mre, J. H. Joll, president of the Hastings branch, presented a very pretty posy of ranunculus, lachenalia and fern to Mrs. Drake, Mr, L. W. Goldfinoh, the. secretary of the Hastings branch was also present. Afternoon tea waq enjoyed by everyone before fhe meeting was brought to a close.