COUNTRYWOMEN MEET FOR COUNCIL & CRAFT DISPLAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22761, 6 October 1948, Page 6

COUNTRYWOMEN MEET FOR COUNCIL & CRAFT DISPLAY

Representatives of 2(5 out of the 33 Women's Institutes in the P. 3. Federation met at the Bon Accord yesterday morning many having travelled long distances despite bad weather to attend the half-yearly council meeting '•lt is a great pleasure to have you here." said Mrs E M Monckton. the president to Miss Amv Kane, vicepresident of the Associated Country Women of the World, in her opening remarks She also warmly welcomed delegates and institute members who had not beer, deterred from attending by the unfortunate weather conditions. She felt that the morning metina and the handcraft exhibition in the afternoon would be interesting and worthwhile features of the institute year. Summary of Six Months An interesting summary of work and objectives achieved during the past six months was set out in the halfyearly report presented bv the secretary of the federation. Mrs. C. J. Cox. With 33 institutes in the federation, there were now approximately GBO members. Coast institutes, mainly Maori ones, had been visited by the executive early in May and and a visit to hill-country institutes was made in September. Mesdames E. M. Monckton, P. F. Barker, H. Allan, Atkins and Johnstone had been re-appoimed as voluntary organisers, with the addition of Mrs. Waititi. Delegates from 18 institutes had attended the Dominion conference in August and three members went as visitors. Assistance in the Flood Thanks were extended to those who sympathised with the federation during the May flood, including two federations who sent gifts ot clothing, groceries and preserves.—Mrs. H. Beattie, Wairoa, for her weaving demonstration, to competition judges, to scrutineers, and to the press. Moving the adoption of the report, the president commented upon her pleasure at the decision of members of Te Puia W.I. to continue activities despite many difficulties. She was pleased to see that both the number of members and the number of institutes in the federation had increased. There had been some disappointment at the attendance at the recent drama school, but she felt that the right foundations had been laid for a further visit from a lecturer or producer.

Her thanks were due to all exhibitors at the handicraft exhibition for the time and trouble they were taking with their courts, especially to Mrs. P. F. Barker and her committee for their work. Her executive, the secretary and the treasurer, Mrs. E. M. Livingston, were also to be gratefully thanked for their co-operation. The report was adopted.

The financial statement which showed a surplus of £122 2s 9d. was presented by the treasurer, and received. The report of the co-ordinating committee which was to have been made by the member, Mrs. Atkins, was given by the secretary. A suggestion was made that a producer be invited to the federation for drama work and received favourably by the meeting. Mrs. Monckton commented on Mrs. Atkins’ work on the co-ordinating committee and thanked her for it. Federation Calendars

A remit suggesting that the federation make an effort to have its own calendars printed for members, from the Makaraka-Matawhero institute, was approved by delegates, who agreed to leave the details to the executive.

Miss Amy Kane addressed the meeting, principally on institute matters and commented on interesting features of W.I. work she had noticed when in England. Institutes were deeply grateful for food parcels and warmly appreciated them especially gifts of fat, cheese, fruit cake, meat and honey, she thought. Miss Kane also described several institute functions she had attended in England and touched on assistance given to Canadian institutes by the Government and schools for tutors in England, and the New Zealand institute’s assistance, given in the form of tutors from the co-ordinating committee and the universities. She was thanked for her address by the president.