Regina Leader
December 29, 1917. p.17
A fine address was given at the No. 8 district convention held at Wooseley
on December 19, by Mrs. John McNaughton, president of the women's section,
dealing especially with women's work, in the course of which she called the
attention of the women to their obligation to the Grain Growers' association
for many of the good things which have come to improve their condition and
outlook. She referred especially to the "Banish the Bar" work of the association
and its influence in securing the franchise for women. She said that women
were now looking in confidence to the new Union Government to give them the
full national franchise. They were indebted to the influence of the association
for the Dower Law and other legislation of great value in the interests of
women. For these reasons all Saskatchewan women should feel obligated to
join the association and take their responsibility as members in it. She
said that women needed the association and the association needed them.
Until the association was formed there was no real organization for farm
women with really broad interests and purposes.
The Homemakers' Clubs look upon the women essentially as housekeepers, and
they are not organized on the same broad basis or for the same ends and purposes
as the Grain Growers' Association. She urged all the members of Homemakers'
Club to join the Grain Growers' association also. In a community where a
Homemakers' Club exists there need not be a separate women's section organized,
but all the women of the community should be in membership with grain growers
association and attend meetings with men, even if they meet separately in
their homemakers' clubs. In this way they can keep in touch with the work
of the grain growers' association and take their full responsibility as members
of the organized farm women. Mrs. McNaughton stated that women's section
were devoting their energies largely to patriotic efforts during these strenuous
times. She urged that reports of their contributions should be sent to the
central office for publication.
RED CROSS AMBULANCE
The women have undertaken to raise $600 for the purchase of a Red Cross Ambulance
which will be marked with the emblem of the association, and will let our
men at the front know that they are remembered by the farm women who are
so nobly doing their share in winning the war.
Speaking of the great need of attention to the conservation of life, and
urging the need of more doctors, nurses, and hospitals, Mrs. McNaughton called
attention to the large mortality among children on our prairies. She said
"it is more dangerous to be a baby in Canada than a soldier in the trenches.
"We believe that each local association has a duty to the children of the
community and the women should give special attention to this matter. Already
splendid work is being done in many places. The women are getting behind
the school fair movement with good success.
They are also helping in the matter of community libraries. Some locals
of community libraries. Some locals young people to produce and to
take an interest in the enterprises of the farm." Referring to teen-age
boys and the girls she asked "what does your district offer your young people
except work and dancing?" She called attention to the fact that the Saskatoon
college is offering a splendid course free to teen-age girls, and urged each
local to send one of their girls as a delegate, and have her report when
she returned. She also commended the locals who sent delegates to the recent
boys' conferences which were held at Saskatoon and Moose Jaw. Quoting
Baden-Powell, she said: "What we do for boys and girls now will show in
our men and women in 1935."
SHORTAGE OF DOMESTIC HELP
Speaking of the farm labor question, she said that the labor controller should
undertake to supply more help for the homes. "There is a very real and acute
shortage of help for the farm woman." She urged that there should be special
encouragement given to use labor-saving machinery and devices to the greatest
possible extent.
She said that if we could turn things around and put men in the homes to
do the housework for awhile there would be a great impetus given to the use
of labor-saving machinery. Even where money was not available for the purchase
of labor-saving machinery, it should be purchased "on time" just as necessary
farm implements are purchased.
There are now between 3,000 and 4,000 women members of the Saskatchewan Grain Growers' association and the numbers are increasing rapidly, but there should be a very rapid increase until nearly all of our women belong to this great organization. The greatest need is for properly trained leaders amoung our women who have the ability to speak and the vision of our work and recognise the great need which exists today.
