The Country-Woman's Corner

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 15

The Country-Woman's Corner

by

Jean.

OCCUPATIONS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. WARFARE AND DEFENCE. Had such a heading been set at the head of a column such as this, say 30, or even 20 years ago, readers young and old would have settled down to read it straight away. Now, lam afraid that even our country supporters will be inclined to “ turn over.” I would therefore request your patience for a little while while we -consider different kinds of warfare—warfare against disease, poverty, injustice, and oppression of every kind, and the victory of good health, contentment, absence of class cleavage, and better conditions of living. Whatever pursuit we follow we must be prepared for opposition, and this is as true of farming as of everything else. One afternoon in a city tea room, we met a neighbouring family who had one of its members on the mission field. In the course of conversation, a brother said: “A missionary in the foreign field is just like a soldier on active service.” The term “ beating swords into ploughshares ” is more than poetic fancy, or a prophecy. The same hard training, 'forethought, and physical fitness are required in both farming and military campaigning.

The Countess of Orford, in her book of reminiscences, tells of the tramp who said he didn’t like getting up in the morning because it meant “ facing the wind.” I am afraid that there are many of us in the same case. When days become shorter and the cows dry off, we love to take a lie-in in the morning. There is the little odd job, the little bit of sewing, of study, or gardening, that might easily be 'fitted in between breakfast and dinner—if we could only screw up courage to get up early enough, but we dawdle through the early part of the day, and time and opportunity slip away. But the successful farmer gets up early, and really when the first discomfort is over, there is nothing so inspiring or so health-giving as walking or working out in the earlymorning. But there are those who like the quiet hours of the night in which to -work and think. In the early part of the day there are so many things crying to be attended to that we feel it wrong to read or sew when others arc bustling about. We linger on and on far into the quiet hours of silence with a book and a cheerful fire, and even when we feel fagged we congratulate ourselves that we are at liberty to sit up late at night arid sleep, late in the morning:

Up in the morning's no for me, Up in the morning early; - When a’ the hills are covered wi’ snow, An’ noo it’s winter fairly. Up in the morning, na, na, na, Up in the morning early. I’d rather ’ gang supperless tae ma bed Than rise in the morning early. A soldier on active service must conserve his food supply, and in these days of trade depression and unemployment we must practise thrift, not only* that, but we must put our capital and land to the very best advantage. A half-day that might be spent at a hockey tournament or football match will give a better return if used to rake over a grass pasture or cultivate the orchard. We won’t suffer if we have to forgo luxuries. Plain living never yet harmed anyone.

The whole of the soldier’s life is spent in taking risks. Many a one hesitates to take up country life on account of the mortgage! which must be undertaken before beginning work, but remember that “nothing venture, nothing win.” The farmer and his family toiling cheerfully along, day by day, are helping their country just as much as the soldiers fighting against the enemy. Farming is the first line of defence. The farm home and the army in the field are not fulfilling their purpose if there is lack of organisation, not only in the home itself, but in marketing of produce, and in affairs of the school and the social life of the community. Long ago, when there was no lack of domestic help, farm women made a habit of visiting each other regularly. Times have changed, but the monthly gathering in the hall or centre will be as much benefit to one and all as the old-time interchange of visits. If we do not keep in touch with our neighbours We may find that we are losing many opportunities of helping. In these days of conferences and organising meetings, there are complaints that time is wasted in this way, but if we do not organise and go to conferences we will soon find ourselves getting behind the times. . Take, for instance, the matter of school committee organisation. The ordinary school committee has practically no power at all. For all the influence it exercises, members might as well not meet at all. But the ordinary school committee, backed by. a school committees’ association, linking up every school committee in the Dominion, and with a Dominion executive meeting in Wellington, and keeping pace with school centralisation in , the . .capital, would be able to have its demands satisfied and mistakes adjusted.

The last comparison between the farm home and the regular army is that each needs good generalship and devotion to duty even to the point of supreme sacrifice. Napoleon said that in his army, “ every drummer boy carried in his knapsack the baton of a marshal of France.” As one of our contemporary writers says: “So it ever is. Being determines becoming. -In politics, as in everything else, it is character that tells. Dodgery may win an election, but in the °end it destroys, the statesman. Read history, and it will tell you that all great reforms have behind them men and women of great character.”

In our day and generation we can pass on something of value to the future. Attending meetings entails a good <>al of sacrifice. One hesitates to leave one’s own fireside to sit in a cold, draughty schoolroom and support a measure that will alienate one from the rest of one’s neighbours, but this, is the way in which our liberties have been purchased. SOm brl i a 1 st ge Hampdcn here with dauntless The little tyrants of his field withstood. And moie than that, one must be prepared to take a beating in a cheerful spirit. “ Rome was not built in a dav ” but in due time right will prevail. For right is right, since God is God And right the day must win ’ To doubt would be disloyalty To falter would be sin. ’ * * FARM CLUB NOTES. In the “ Country Women’s Corner ” we are speaking of warfare. Every boy and girl knows of the warfare that must be waged against weeds and blight. I wonder if you always read the gardening page. I think it would be a very good plan if you would cut out the notes and make a book of them. I would also like you to do what you can to help with work in the orchard. Many old trees are covered with all kinds of blight. Now, if these old trees are taken in hand, and a hive of bees placed in the orchard, it is surprising how soon the trees will respond to the care, and produce a good crop of apples. Though these insect pests arc very harmful, their

life history and habits are very wonder ful and interesting. * ¥ V FARM WOMEN’S INSTITUTES. By Mifawny. Members should always take advantage of the cooking demonstrations given by gas companies and electric power boards. Small branches and out-of-the-way places might also persuade some of the demonstrators to meet in a member’s home and give a cookery demonstration. •Y- V * The annual meeting of the Mandeville branch of the Women’s Institute was held recently. In the unavoidable absence of the president, Mrs R. B. Ross, Mrs J. H. M'Leod took the chair, over 20 members being in attendance. The report of the previous year’s working showed that a very satisfactory period of work had been accomplished, the total membership being 24. The appointment of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mrs Gordon Sliced; vice-president, Mrs Prentice; honorary secretary, Miss M’Leod; honorary treasurer, Miss Roche; press reporter, Mrs M. Roche; the personnel of the committee remains the same as last year. After formal business was completed, Mr Burrows (Gore), assisted by hi 3 daughter, gave a demonstration of wreath making. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the visitors. ¥ . * * The monthly meeting of the Waimumu Women’s Institute took the form of a ballot for committee members, when the following ladies were elected:—Mesdames Copeland,'Peart, F. Smith, G. Smith, M’Swceney, Goodwin, Robertson, Forbes, Maclean, and Miss Telfer. A second ballot for officials resulted in Mrs C. Goodwin being elected president, and Mesdames F. Smith and P. F. Maclean as vice-presidents, while Mrs G. Smith was again chosen as honorary secretary. The retiring president, Mrs A. Copeland, in a neat little speech, thanked the officials and committee for their loyal support in the past, and welcomed Mrs Goodwin to the chair. The inaugural

meeting of the officials and committee was held at the residence of Mrs C. Robertson. Ar The usual monthly meeting of the Waikaka. Women’s Institute was held in the hall, where Mrs Nixon presided over an attendance of 26 members and several visitors. The meeting opened with the reading of the Institute aspiration and the month’s motto, “A fault-mender is better than a fault-finder.” Mrs Nixon and Miss Cameron were appointed as delegates to the annual meeting to be held at Dunedin in June. It was resolved to send in two remits for consideration as follow*: —(a) That in the event of a rally being held, the members of the Institute at the centre where such rally is being held supply the necessary refreshments: (b) that the federation supply plays for play-reading. A most interesting and instructive address on poultry was given by Mr Clayton, of Gore. A large number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. A hearty vote of thanks to the speaker for his address was carried by acclamation. On behalf of the Institute, Mrs Nixon presented Miss Maslin with a beautiful cut-glass scent spray as a token of appreciation of her services as secretary for the past two years. Miss Maslin suitably replied.