{"id":1088,"date":"2017-03-08T02:56:51","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T02:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/?p=1088"},"modified":"2017-03-08T02:56:51","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T02:56:51","slug":"the-real-housewives-of-dunedin-the-dunedin-housewives-union-dunedin-housewives-association-records-1930-1977-ag-002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/the-real-housewives-of-dunedin-the-dunedin-housewives-union-dunedin-housewives-association-records-1930-1977-ag-002\/","title":{"rendered":"The real housewives of Dunedin: the Dunedin Housewives\u2019 Union Dunedin Housewives’ Association : Records (1930 – 1977) AG-002"},"content":{"rendered":"

Post prepared by Kari Wilson-Allan, Hocken Collections Assistant, Researcher Services<\/p>\n

Today being International Women\u2019s Day, it seems fitting to delve into the history of some Dunedin women \u2013 our own real housewives.<\/p>\n

Established in late 1930, in the midst of the Great Depression, the Dunedin Housewives\u2019 Union, headed up by the dynamo Mrs Alice Herbert, aimed to become a \u2018real live and effective power in this part of the Dominion\u2019. Meetings were held fortnightly, initially in the Dunedin Trades Hall, with a 2\/6 annual membership fee.<\/p>\n

First page, Minute Book (1930 \u2013 1941) AG-002-01<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Subjects under discussion revolved around, among other things, the quality and cost of foodstuffs, fuel, schoolbooks, and housing. Meat was \u2018the foundation of the usual daily dinner\u2019 and therefore \u2018of utmost importance to the housewife\u2019. That available in Dunedin was the \u2018dearest in the Dominion\u2019.\u00a0 Milk and bread also drew attention; calls for the pasteurisation of milk and the packaging of bread appeared in local newspapers, along with requests for a municipal milk supply as a means to cut distribution costs.<\/p>\n

Media coverage of riots in Dunedin, Otago Witness, 12 January 1932, p.20.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fundraising events were common features in the women\u2019s calendars. They organised bazaars, jumble sales, hat-trimming competitions, guess-the-weight-of-the-ham competitions (ham kindly supplied by Wolfenden and Russell), even baby shows.\u00a0 A \u2018hot pea and hot dog stall\u2019 in 1931 was the cause of \u2018much meriment [sic] \u2019.<\/p>\n

As well as supporting the community with events like the 1933 party for the old-age pensioners at Talboys\u2019 Home (lollies donated by Wardell\u2019s Grocery), which was intended to \u2018bring a little brightness into their drab lives\u2019, the women looked after their own.\u00a0 One member was gifted cocoa as she was \u2018in great need of additional nourishment\u2019.<\/p>\n

The employment and unemployment of women concerned the Union.\u00a0 It was recognised that often young women would be hired for a short period of time and then dismissed, leading to insecurity.\u00a0 Compounding the problem was the higher costs of living in the South Island, where food and clothing were dearer.\u00a0 The importation of foreign goods also raised their ire.<\/p>\n

Temptations to housewives, Minute Book (1930 \u2013 1941) AG-002-01, p.144<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Housing conditions were decried; condemned buildings were at times tenanted. Washing facilities were in short supply, women needed to be recruited as inspectors, and to have a larger role in the City Council over all.<\/p>\n

Housewives\u2019 concerns, Minute Book (1930 \u2013 1941) AG-002-01, p.125<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meetings often featured speakers or debates.\u00a0 One such debate in 1933 on the subject of birth control proved to be \u2018very interesting\u2019, and at its conclusion, members shared their personal opinions, which were both \u2018amusing and instructive\u2019.<\/p>\n

A selection of speakers\u2019 subjects in the Union\u2019s first decade, Notes on the history of the Association, AG-002-13<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who were the women of the Union?\u00a0 This is not an easy question to answer.\u00a0 Members of the Executive of the first year included a Mrs. Seddon, a Mrs. Anderson and a Mrs. Allen.\u00a0 Without their first initials, finding the correct woman in electoral rolls has proved to be a minefield.\u00a0 Sometimes the addition of a husband\u2019s initial was a vital clue.<\/p>\n

The members certainly had adequate time to contribute to their cause, to pay their annual dues and rent their premises.\u00a0 Based on this and a number of other clues, I surmise that they were certainly not the poorest of the poor at that time.\u00a0 They had education behind them, and political contacts.<\/p>\n

Alice Herbert\u2019s husband was the Secretary for the Dunedin Drivers\u2019 and Storemens\u2019 Union, and he, along with Alice, was heavily involved in the Labour Party.\u00a0 In 1934, Alice tendered her resignation for the president\u2019s role, based on her other commitments, but this was refused pending a determination of how time-consuming her other political activities would prove to be.\u00a0 That the Union did not accept her resignation seems a signifier of her great influence and energy.<\/p>\n

Women around New Zealand came to hear of the Dunedin Union, and made contact, wanting to establish similar groups of their own.\u00a0 Unions formed in Invercargill, Waimate and Napier and elsewhere, eventually growing a network around the country.\u00a0 Affiliations with the National Council of Women developed, and by the 1950s, the name Union was dropped for the less combative sounding Association.<\/p>\n

It would be unfair of me to allude to \u2018real housewives\u2019 without supplying some element of drama.\u00a0 The minutes do indicate certain conflicts of interest, perceived insults and tempestuous resignations, but to focus on these would belittle the valuable contributions made to the community.\u00a0 Certainly as membership grew, challenges arose.\u00a0 Rules were established, and prospective members needed to be introduced by current members to be admitted.\u00a0 By June 1934 there was concern that \u2018misrepresentation\u2019 could arise as a consequence of \u2018business [of the Union] being discussed outside the organization\u2019, and in October of that year it was declared that \u2018loyalty to our union must be shown.\u2019<\/p>\n

Minute Book (1930 \u2013 1941) AG-002-01, p.164<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Curiosity piqued by this first minute book?\u00a0 Come in and explore them further.\u00a0 The minute books stretch from 1930 through to 1974, are unrestricted, and contain myriad avenues for investigation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Post prepared by Kari Wilson-Allan, Hocken Collections Assistant, Researcher Services Today being International Women\u2019s Day, it seems fitting to delve into the history of some Dunedin women \u2013 our own real housewives. Established in late 1930, in the midst of the Great Depression, the Dunedin Housewives\u2019 Union, headed up by the dynamo Mrs Alice Herbert, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14625,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15311,15421,343,12270],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives-and-manuscripts","category-exhibitions-and-events","category-resources","category-women"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14625"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1088\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}