The Women’s Unionist and Tariff Reform Association (WUTRA) was founded in 1906 and became the main women’s group associated with the Conservative and Unionist Party until it was merged into the Women’s Unionist Organisation in 1918.

Its Eskdale branch also referred to itself as a branch of the Women’s Tariff Reform League. The Tariff Reform League was in favour of making the British Empire a free trade bloc and imposing tariffs on non-Empire imports.

The Eskdale women’s organisation decided not to hold political meetings during the war but had a large farewell presentation for its vice-chairman Margaret Graham who was leaving for London (see 26th November in the Diary). Margaret was the sister of Richard and Fred Graham, owners of the Reid & Taylor mill.

She was succeeded as vice-chairman by Edith Dobie, daughter of the late Hugh Dobie, solicitor. The secretary was Agnes Smith, sister-in-law of James Paterson of Terrona farm, where she lived.

Other prominent members were Mrs Mary Milne Home, Irvine House, and Charlotte Cairns, Holmfoot.

The organisation’s 1914 meetings included a talk by Mrs Shaw Hamilton of the Ulster Women’s Unionist Council, entitled Why the Irish Loyalists Won’t Have Home Rule, chaired by Clement Armstrong, coal agent.

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