WOMEN’S DIVISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1938, Page 8

WOMEN’S DIVISION

MEMBERSHIP CONDITIONS WIDENED PROBLEM OF OBTAINING HELP IN HOMES. HOSPITAL FOR MAORI WOMEN PROPOSED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A change of some consequence in the rules of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union opens full, membership of the Division to all women living in the country districts, and not only those connected with the land. The old rule cut out useful people such as the wives of schoolmasters and storekeepers. The difficulty of obtaining competent help for the Division’s nurse and housekeeper scheme for providing help to country homes, in cases of illness and trouble, was brought before the meeting. One suggestion was for girls from English orphanages to be brought out as home workers. Another was that girls from Central Europe be invited. Dr Strong, of the Otago University, pointed out that the solution lay with New Zealand women themselves. She said New Zealand girls should be trained in homecraft and the work made as attractive as other work. A suggestion was made that such training should be comnulsory. Tne Division is wholeheartedly behind the Minister for Health in his schemes for training Maori girls for work among their own people. It was suggested that a fine centennial memorial from the women of New Zealand would be the establishment of a hospital for Maori women, staffed by Maori nurses.