N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Shannon News, 19 October 1926, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

PROPOSED FORMATION OF WOMEN’S DIVISION. A special meeting of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, Levin branch, was held in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday afternoon. The attendance was not very large. Mr H. Denton, president, occupied the. chair. 1 CORRESPONDENCE. * A letter was received from the Women’s Division of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, asking the Levin branch to convene a meeting of farmers’ wives and daughters in the Levin district, with the object of forming a branch of the women’s division. A pamphlet was also forwarded, setting out the main objects of the movement. Chief of these were as follows: (1) To strengthen the Farmers’ Union through co-operation of both country men and women; (2) to better the conditions of women and children living on the land; (3) improve the schooling for country children; (4) to improve medical and nursing facilities for country women; (5) to secure more domestic help on farms, either visiting help or housekeepers; (6) to secure school books for children at cost price; (7) to endeavour to secure a Home Science Department at the University and Agricultural Colleges, thereby enabling country women to receive instructions in dressmaking, millinery, bottling and preserving fruits, domestic arts, together with lectures and demonstrations on public health, child welfare, prevention of disease, etc.; (8) provision of rest rooms iu country towns. Mr A. J. Gimblett said he failed to see where the creation of such a diviswould accomplish very much. He asked whether any of the subjects incorporated in the foregoing paragraph could not be tackled *by the menfolk. A number of meetings had been called in Levin and, perhaps, for six months there was very little to discuss, and the attendance at these meetings was, invariably, poor. Mr G. Tully said he thought Mr Gimblett was looking at the subject, from the parochial -viewpoint. He instanced the question of those women in the back blocks, whose lot was indeed a hard one, and who experienced a good deal of difficulty in securing 'domestic help. In all probability the ladies would tackle the question in a far more thorough manner than the men. Mr Gimblett said he thought that by advocating this movement they were passing on a gdod deal of the load that should be borne by the men. Mr Tully moved that _ a meeting be called to discuss the matter. Mr W. H. Beecher seconded the motion, which was carried. A committee comprising Messrs G. Tully, H. Denton, and F. R. Wright were- appointed to make the arrangements necessary to convene a meeting of ladies.