WOMENS INSTITUTE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 3 October 1927, Page 8

WOMENS INSTITUTE

CONFERENCE AT HAVELOCK NORTH. (Contributed.) ►Some two hundred ladies, members of the Hawke’s Hay Federation of Women’s Institutes met at the Village Hall Havelock North on Thursday, September 29th. Favoured by beautiful weather members and friends gathered from all over the province, some coming from as far alield as Woodville and Pahiatua. Miss Spencer, N.Z. President was in the chair, and put through a great deal of routine business in her usual efficient and interesting manner. The balance-sheet was satisfactory and progress was reported on all sides; membership is increasing and new institutes continue tobe formed. The Auckland district institutes have formed an Auckland Federation, and doubtless the Institutes in the Wellington province will shortly do the same. Miss Spencer reported the beginning of a small N.Z. Women’s Institute magazine; for a while it will be only a modest leaflet supplied at one penny per copy t but it is the forerunner of greater things. Miss Spencer told how interested English members are becoming in N.Z. Institutes; correspondence has already begun between Berkshire and Hawke’s Bay, and the exchange of ideas between women of the Dominion and women in the Home Land holds great possibilties.

Delegates were present from Taradale, Hissington Havelock Clive Mararetotara, Otane, Waipawa, Tikikino, Waipukurau, Otawhio, Norsewood, Woodville and Pahiatua and reports were given from eacn place. These ieports were received with much applause, and they certainly demonstrated the useful work of the Institutes, and also showed the vigour ana originality of the country committees who had organised such varied programmes, and done such good work. Lectures, travel talks, Hower snows, handicraft and demonstrations debates, falk dancing cooking and dressmaking lessons were only a few oi the items named, and a gratifying -feature is the generosity shown to local orphanages as well as help m individual cases of need. In England, Institutes take a keen interest in the welfare of their towns, and in this respect Tikikino leads in N.Z. for that small Institute has taken the war memorial under its care and has improved the reading room and done many ether useful things for their town.

in the luncheon interval time was given for members to inspect an exhibition of handicrafts and a fine collection of soft toys sent in by various institutes..

The afternoon session began w’ith a Community sing, conducted by Mrs Blair, which went exceedingly well. Then an amusing and well acted Charade was put on by four difife rent institutes —Taradale, Clive, Waipawa and Havelock each contributing a scene, Scene IV., comprising the “Farm Yard Chorus,” by Havelock, with its cleverly painted animals’ brought down the house. The solo in. this scene was effectively taken by Mrs Fenwick of Pahiatua.

Kissington was to have contributed some Folk Dances, but the prevailing epidemic had disorganised the practises—so sixteen Havelock members kindly came forward, and gave two graceful country dances, which were much admired by all present. Afternoon tea was kindly provided by (he Havelock members and after the singing of the National Anthem the meeting slowly and unwillingly dispersed, with the hope unanimously expressed that such gatherings may be frequently and regularly held in many other parts o-f Hawke’s Bay.