CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11511, 18 February 1903, Page 8

CANTERBURY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

In her report at the tenth annual meeting of the Canterbury Women's Institute, tha Acting-President (Mrs Paige) stated that the membership had been satisfactorily maintained, and over sixty subsoriptions had been received during tlie year. Early in the year it had been regretfully decided that tlie time had not yet arrived when all members of the community were sufficiently free from sectarian bias to admit of Bible teaching in scnools without danger to the present system of free and compulsory education. The Institute was very glad to 'note that the general expression of the necessity for popularising secondary education had induced the Government to submit to the High School Boards a scheme of free admission to the schools in their charge. While admitting that the

suggested plan has many weaknesses, it was regretted that it has not in all cases been met in a friendly spirit. In the opinion of the Institute it was most urgent that kindergartens should be established in connection with our schools. It vrafi hoped that during tlie present year the Institute would give prominence to this need, and also support the advocates of technical education in their demand for the establishment of free technical schools and continuation classes. Another important reform which the Institute endeavoured during the year to forward was the initiative and referendum. Two delegates were appointed to a conference convened by the Progressive Liberal Association, and a manifesto was drawn up and printed, strongly advocating the adoption of initiative and referendum, laws in New Zealand. The Institute interested itself, too, in the condition of the various homes for destitute and unfortunate children throughout Canterbury. The lyttelton Orphanagewas visited, and what appeared to them necessary alterations were suggested to the governing body. Several of these improvements had since been carried out. Tlie Institute also discussed the possibility of inducing the Government to establish Cottage Homes in various parts of our colony for our orphaned and unoared for children. The speaker earnestly hoped that during the present year the Institute might see its way to continue and increase its efforts in this direction In the same direction they had to heartily congratulate the Government and the people of New Zealand on the establishment of Inebriate Homes. It was with great pleasure that they reported the re-election of Mesdames Black and Wells to the Charitable Aid Board. The Institute expressed itself as strongly in favour of the abolition of barmaids, and the matter was made the subject of one of the questions put by members of the Institute to Parliamentary candidates. The Institute had this satisfaction of having in the past year been instrumental in furthering some important reforms, but much remains to be done, and the speaker trusted the members were prepared to throw themselves heart and soul into the work. It was with very great reirret that the speaker had to announce that their valued treasurer would not be able to again accept office. Mrs Williams had been ordered a complete rest from all but absolutely necessary work for some months. The Institute would, she felt sure, join in very heartily thanking Mrs Williams for what she has done in the past, and in hoping that next year might see her restored to health.