WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 15

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Council Meeting at Otaki 300 MEMBERS-PRESENT A resolution was carried at the halfyearly meeting of the Southern Wellington Federation of Women’s Institutes at Otaki on Thursday to the effect that the Postmaster-General be approached with the request that rural telephone rentals should be reduced at the earliest possible opportunity. The conference was attended by representatives of every institute in the federation, some 300 members being present. A civic welcome was extended by the Mayor of Otaki, Mr. O’Rourke, who commended the movement as being of immense benefit to any woman.

The president of the federation, Miss M. C. Maddever, took as the subject of her presidential address, “Progress and. Power,” stressing the fact that true progress should not be calculated on s. numerical basis, but was rather to »e seen in the development of the real institute spirit. She urged the cultivation \f tolerance, broadmindedness, and helpfulness as a means of bringing the movement to its highest usefulness. It was decided that un effort ehouid be made to provide facilities for educating officers in institute principles and management, and this will probably be effected through the medium of the groups. The federation was honoured by the presence of Mrs. H. Paterson, Dominion president, who referred to the widespread influence of the movement, and the obligations such influence entailed. She preferred to call the women’s institutes movement rather than an organisation, since movement implied progress, whereas organisation, though necessary, had no such implication. “The women’s institutes,” said Mrs. Paterson, “have certain obligations to home and country. We must be educated to give of our best. The women’s institutes offers a very wide scope for our ideals and aspirations which must be at the back of all our activities.” The constitution, she continued, allowed every member an opportunity to support and control the movement, so that none need feel that they were of no use in the service.

Miss Amy Kane, representing the Dominion executive, gave valuable advice as to the choice of resolutions to be forwarded to conference, and urged that care should be taken that" none but remits which ufere capable of being put into effect and which would be of value to the community should be sent forward. Miss Kane, as president of the British Drama League, dealt with that body’s activities, especially as they affected the institutes, and voiced her satisfaction with the progress made in drama and allied subjects. At the conclusion of the business, a series of poster, tableaux, interspersed with musical items, was presented, the winners being Manakau Women's Institute, “Canoe Brand,” with Paraparaumu, “Three Castles,” second. An iced-cake competition was won by Otaki. The handcraft stall, as usual, attracted much attention, outstanding novelties being flower-sprays made of brushed wool and an Italian quilted cushion.

Appreciation was expressed at the help generously given in the presentation of the tableaux by Messrs. Richards, Mathie, and Mortiboy. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to all who had contributed to its success and the singing of the National Anthem.