CO-OPERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 249, 21 October 1935, Page 11

CO-OPERATION.

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE WORK. MISS A. M. STOPS'. VIEWS. So interested is Miss Agnes Stops in the work of the women's institutes that she continually travels around, organising, assisting and generally inspiring tho institute movement throughout the world. The whole of the work is done in an honorary capacity—through sheer belief in its good and a desire for service. This spirit characterises many of the leaders of the institute movement. It is the thing which 'is making the organisation one of the most powerful that women have ever joined.

Miss Stops has paid previous visits to New Zealand and has assisted in the formation of many branches throughout the country. She arrived in Auckland on Saturday by the Mariposa, having just come from India and Australia.

"Marvellous work is being done in Ceylon," said Miss Stops this morning. "They are endeavouring to have institutes in every village. There is a central executive which forms district committees, who go out and organise. The Ministers of Education and Agriculture and the chief scout are all helping from Colombo and their interest in adding considerably to the growth of the movement." The Indian words for women's institutes were "Mahila Samiti," Miss Stops continued. She was present at Pannipetya, the first samiti in Ceylon, where the members sang the Paddy Harvest Reaping folk song. A competition was held for the best collected edible leaves and the prize-winner had a collection of 70 varieties to bo used in salads, any of which eaten with rice provided the vitamins necessary for a nourishing meal. This institute was this year concerning itself with matters pertaining to health.

Miss Stops considered that Australia was making marvellous strides forward in her institute work. They were building up co-operative machinery between the town and country and for this purpose were establishing .metropolitan branches which were working in the towns. A wonderful feature of the movement was the number of young people interested. In no other country, including England, were so many young people taking an active part.

Every woman who works in bodies or movements to organise women knows full well that the success of the group depends upon the co-operation of the various members. Miss Stops goes one further when she holds that women should co-operate in their various organisatione. While she agreed that interest could take people into different by-ways, there should bo an intensive drive toward co-operation in the larger movements. She quoted the Prince of Wales, who said that if an effort were made to make more efficient the existing things instead of starting new ones there would be more understanding and more real friendliness among individuals.

: "It is all a matter of values," added Miss Stops. "It is lamentable that in these days when things are difficult and complicated, time should be wasted on things that are not constructive in a big and progressive way,"

Miss Stops' interest and work in the institute movement is combined with her work for the- International Council of Women and the Overseas League—two things which include and co-operate with institute work. By centring on these things she is able to keep her effort concentrated. After leaving Auckland Mise Stops will visit institutes throughout the whole of the country and expects to return to England early next year.