FARMERS’ UNION

Southland Times, Issue 21092, 26 May 1930, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION

WOMEN’S DIVISION. REPORT OF ORGANIZING COMMITTEE. . The organizing committee of the Invercargill branch of the Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union has prepared the following report on its activities during the period just ended:— , “Progress has been made but' not to the extent that we could have wished. Since the last report was presented three new branches have .been started in the Invercargill area; at Wyndham; at Winton and at Toi Tois. Invercargill is a very large branch and we feel the time has come when we should divide up into smaller branches, Many of our members are never able to attend a meeting and so miss the fellowship enjoyed by those who can. If there were branches at such places as Riverton, Thornbury, Otautau, Nightcaps and either Orepuki or Tuatapere, many of our members could attend and new members would certainly be enrolled. Lumsden and Winton give striking proof of this. “ One of our greatest difficulties in opening new branches is to get the consent of our own members. They have become used to the Invercargill branch and feel that,all their interests and friendship centre round that group and gathering.

“We wish to make it clear that there is no need for a member to leave the -mother branch unless she wishes to do so and that we will not at any time, without the consent or wish of our members, transfer their names to -the roll of new branches which may be opened in their district. We would stress the point, which Mrs Polson, our first president, made quite clear at the conference, that one may belong to as many branches as one wishes provided that the membership fee of 2/6 is paid to each branch. We feel that even if branches cannot be formed we must try to arrange as many study circles as we can in our area. We feel that when the country Home Science scheme gets properly established it will be a splendid thing for country women and girls. Just at first the studies may not be perfectly suited to our conditions but Professor Strong and her assistants are most anxious to be of every assistance to us and have generously asked for helpful suggestions from study leaders so that they may be able to meet our needs. This should be the realization of one of the dreams of the Women’s Division leaders: the extending of the Home Science department to the country. We will obtain all the information and help possible and then try out the study circles and help groups to function in outlying districts. “This year we have made no special effort to organise or add members to our own branch. Each new branch started has taken a toll of Invercargill members. This is good and is as it should be, but that does not mean that we do not need or desire new members. Our ideal is to have every farm woman a member of the Women’s Division. If she belongs to some branch that is all we desire. It would be- a fine ideal if, this year, we made an effort to bring in a new member for every one that we give to a new branch. Some of our old members have not yet paid their subscriptions for this year and a special effort will be needed to get in touch wtih these. Should an executive be formed in Southland that will naturally mean that we shall not have the responsibility of any particular area, but it will not mean that branch presidents cannot organize new branches and it certainly will not mean that your organizing committee will cease to function. There will always be the organizing and improving of our own branch to keep us fully employed.”