WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Grey River Argus, 19 October 1936, Page 6

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

CONFERENCE AT REEFTON. REST ROOMS. At the conference of West Coast Women’s Institutes at Reefton, n remit as presented by Mrs A V. Olliver. of Greymouth, advocated a public rest room at Greymouth fully equipped and well furnished to serve not only townswomen aud children, but all country women and children who visit Greymouth for business purposes and to see friends and relatives. Members of the Greymouth Borough Council had been approached and improvements to the Town Hall block had been planned which will include a rest room anil Plunket rooms, etc. It was suggested iliat the time was now opportune to finalise this matter. The furnishing of the room would probably present sonic difficulty, but with the assistance of country members this would be overcome. Barry town-Punakaiki branch presented a remit also regarding the erection of a public women's rest room, and it was discussed in conjunction with the above. Mesdames Lawry, Duff’, Hampson and A. P. Watson, of Reefton, explained the steps that had to be taken towards the erection of a rest room at Rcefton. It was resolved that this West Coast Federation of Women’s Institutes do all in its power to urge the proper authorities to provide a proper women ’s rest room in Greymouth, aud a deputation consisting of Mesdames Rankiu, Stewart, Chapman, Meade and Swan was appointed to wait on the Borough Council at Grcymouth to urge the remit and to place before the Council the urgent necessity of the room. A motion was put aud lost, Only one vote being registered in its favour, that Institutes contribute towards the cost of tne erection and maintenance of rest rooms, the feeling of lhe meeting being that the matter was one which local bodies should finance.

A. Runanga member placed before the meeting the case of a widow’ in the district of Coal Creek, who had suffered very severely in the recent Hood. Runanga Institute had organis-, ed an effort to assist this very worthy case and the lady asked if the meeting felt able to assist by making a small donation. A collection was taken up which resulted in £2 7s 9d being donated. The Runanga mem'ber thanked the meeting for the donation which would be greatly appreciated by this branch.

A remit before the last biennial Federation meeting held in Greymouth that the Federation was in favour of lectures on Red Cross work and first aid being given to the various branches of the Institute and that, the Canterbury branch of the Red Cross Society be asked to assist in this matter was discussed. The president reported the Canterbury Society had referred this matter to Wellington headquarters, and no reply had been received. D was resolved that the Federation again write to the Canterbury Red Cross Society urging tho necessity of the provision of lectures on first, aid

work. The roll cull was held and was answered by- the delegates from the following Institutes: Ahaura, Barrytowu, Brunner, Cronadun, Greyinoutlt, Harihari, Hokitika, Ikamatua, laangahua Junction, Kumara, liotokohu, Nelson Creek, Ngahere, Paroa, Reefton. Ross, Runanga, Rimu-Wuodstock and Waiuta. All delegates reported on the work of their branches. The Buller delegation expressed thanks for the welcome extended to them. Mrs Mulholland extended a welcome to members to attend the initial meeting of I the newly formed Buller Provincial Federation to be held .-it Westport on the 23rd iust. Vocal solos were given by Mesdames iSharpe aud Cochrane. Airs Discaeiati presided at the piaau. Two one-act. comedies, “O. Mr. Smyth,’’ performed by the Cronadun Institute, and “The World Without Men,” by the Reeftou Institute were much enjoyed. The Reeftou branch was. accorded a hearty vote of thanks tor lhe way in which the visitors were entertained.