W.D.F.U.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 137, 10 May 1940, Page 9

W.D.F.U.

monthly meeting

The Palmerston North branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union met at Messrs Collinson and (Jauninghame’s rooms . yesterday, Mrs W. F.' Field presiding. Miss M. Matheson (secretary) reported that she had been able to pack three parcels, weighing about each, of soldiers’ comforts collected by the members. Mrs Field proposed that the sum of £5 be donated as a nucleus ,for a fund for soldiers’ comforts to be added to month by month through various efforts. Members were asked to support the appeal of the Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance Association.

Arrangements for tile division stall at the Winter Show were discussed and various offers of help were accepted. Votes of thanks were accorded Mesdames F. Gowing and D. Watson,for their work in connection with a dance for men of the Maori Battalion, and to Mesdames W. J. Croucher, R. Robertson, D. Watson and AV. Montgomery in appreciation of their untiring work for the Y.4V.C.A. table-setting competition in which , the AV.D.F.U. gained second place. Thanks were also accorded the ladies who had assisted with supper for the Maori Battalion. It was reported that £ll 12s 6d had been raised at the garden party and sent on to headquarters. The birthday party of the branch was discussed and trophies were offered by Mesdames A. Nichols, Boyce, 1. Seymour and E. B. Jennings, and accepted. Mrs J. C. Riddle agreed to take charge of the programme, and the vice-presidents, Mesdames Croucher, Green, Millard and Montgomery, were appointed hostesses. Members were reminded of the annual provincial meeting at Marton. Mrs Field appealed for support for the countrywomen's shop, to be organised in connection with the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance appeal, and which would be under the supervision of Mrs Field and Miss M. Gra.nt.

Those willing to help with the sale of roses for Mothers’ Day were asked to hand in their names. It was reported that Mr Guy had signified his intention of donating a wireless set to the countrywomen’s shop. A letter thanking the Division for a gift of GO pairs of new socks to the Maori Battalion and also thanking members for their active interest in the well-being of soldiers, which was very much appreciated, was received from Lieutenant-Colonel G. Dittmer.

The Mayoress (Airs A. E. Mansford) and Mrs C. C. Thomson, of Ashhurst, wrote expressing appreciation of messages of sympathy during their illness. Miss L. M. Banks, matron of the Palmerston North Hospital, sent a letter of thanks for donations of surgical dressings. Hospital reports were given by Mesdames A. Adcock and H. Harris and Mesdames Hodgson, Muir and Cook were appointed hospital visitors fori the ensuing month. CONVALESCENT HOME.

Airs Adcock, in submitting her report as a hospital visitor, pointed out the urgent need for a convalescent home in Palmerston North for patients leaving hospital, and asked if the division could not start a movement towards securing one. She instanced cases that had come under her notice such as one family, in which both husband and wife were in hospital and the wife dreaded having to return home and take up heavy household duties immediately she left tne hospital. AlrS Adcock said that her mother (the late Airs W. H. Smith) had been one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Palmerston North Hospital and she would like to carry oil her mother’s work. She urged that the Hospital Board be approached in the matter. Mrs Field said there was nothing to prevent town women in need of a place for convalescence going to “Kianga Aloe,’’ the division’s rest home at Awapuui, provided eountiy women had preference, but the financial aspect was the difficulty. The home hoard could only pay out of their funds for Country women. She ventured the opinion that it was a pity the City Fathers were considering making a winter garden their Centennial effort when a convalescent homo would have been so much more useful. Some of the women’s organisations had suggested this when the city’s Centennial celebrations were first discussed. It was suggested that there might be citizens public-spirited enough to take in patients discharged from hospital who still needed a little care and attention to bring them back to health, and it was decided to explore these avenues in consultation with Aliss Iv. Spensley, hospital almoner. At a committee meeting prior to the main meeting Airs Field presided and also present were Mesdames S. Avery, A Adcock, B. A. Bond, D. Buchanan, AV. Croucher, C. Eglinton, H. Green. Gilchrist, H. H. Harris, R. Hodgson, E. B. Jennings, 11. Millard, AV. Alontgomery, AI. Aluir, TI. Middleton, AA r . Alurrav, J. McMahon, R. Robertson, G. Shannon, F. Seymour, AV. Tomlinson, Alisses A. Rawlinson and AI. Alatheson (secretary). Airs Field welcomed the new members to. the committee, expressing the hope that they would find the work stimulating. Matters concerning the AATnter Show stall and birthday party were discussed, to be completed at a general meeting, and it was reported that the branch had sent a mother to “Kianga Aloe” for a fortnight’s rest and a housekeeper sent to her home to look after the five children.