ORGANISING WORK.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 268, 18 October 1917, Page 8

ORGANISING WORK.

AN OPKN LETTER TO THE UNIONS. Dear Sisters, — In thinking over matters connected with the organising work and funds, it appears to me that the time is arriving, if not already here, when in the interests of the Union, and in order to secure a steady development of the work in ail parts of the Dominion, we shall have to consider whether a change in present methods may not have to be adopted. With the increase in the number of Branches, it is becoming a matter of physical impossibility for any one, even as energetic a worker as our present Dominion Organiser, to effectively cover the whole of both Islands. Some of our larger Unions are arranging, or contemplate doing so, to employ organisers for their own district work, and while the desire which this indicates to further the Union work is much to be comemnded, I do not think the appointment of a number of District Organisers is likely to nake fore general efficiency, more particularly as there appears to be a tendency in such cases for the District Organiser to spend a considerable proportion of time in or about the main centre, and comparatively little in visiting the country Branches, whose isolated position makes it all the more necessary that they should be built up and established by help from the larger centres. The result is that the work of helping the country Branches is apt to be left to the Dominion Organiser ,with consequent increase of lost time and expense in travelling, while on the other hand the fund for meeting such expense is weakened because District Unions employing own Organisers cannot spare so much financial assistance to the Dominion Fund. Thus there is general increase of expenditure, without accompanying increase of efficiency or of good result. Now it appears to me that much more effective oiganisalion could probably be secured by aiming at the engagement of two organisers, one for each Island, who might exchange Islands annually. Ooupled with this, I believe we shall need to develop a method whereby capable members of the large District Unions shall periodically visit the auxiliary Branches, receiving from members of the Branches

usual hospitality during their visits, but no other payment, all their travelling ebpenses being borne by the District Union. Such a system would, I believe, develop a much closer bond of sentiment and unity between District and Branch Unions, and would make the Union thorughout the Dominion a much stronger organisation, while the work of “mothering" the Branch Unions would, in its turn, benefit the District Unions, for such work, like mercy, would bless both her that gives and her that takes. I hope the above suggestions will be considered and discussed by Unions. Yours sincerely, NELLIE BENDELY, N.Z. Treasurer. Auckland, 6th October, 1917.