WOMEN’S INSTITUTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 11

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES.

ADDRESS BY DOMINION PRESIDENT. OFFICERS ELECTED. The half-yearly and annual council meeting of the Northern-Wellington Federation of Women’s Institutes, which was held in the Municipal Hall yesterday, concluded late i nM.be afternoon, There was an attendance of between. 200 and 300, Miss M. Grant presiding. The 'resolutions put before the meeting in the morning, advocating that the institutes support any move to improve the poor qualty of Hour, anti also the need ■ for cheaper oranges and sugar, brought forward by the Carnarvon and Ohakea Institutes respectivej ly, were carried, it being decided to I forward them to the Dominion executive. The result of the election of members of the executive was announced as follows:—Miss M. Grant, Mesdames A. K. Drew (Sanson), R. H. H. Guthrie (RangiwaJiia), W. G. Short (Cheltenham), E. E. Short (Cheltenham), A. McCorkindale (Feilding), S. J. Barnicoat (Kimbolton), Waring-Tay-lor (Shannon), .T. Lynch (Linton), Gregory (Marton Junction), J. Symons (Foxton), and A. P. Easton (Foxton). Miss Grant was rc-elected president unopposed. Sprays were presented to the president, secretary and treasurer, the latter two also being accorded musical honours and cheers. Mrs Wai'ing-Taylor was in the chair for the election of president Appreciation was expressed of the courtesy of the City Council in rearranging a meeting to permit of the use of the supper-room for the council meeting.

It was agreed to hold the drama festival in July as usual, and members were reminded that glee singing and folk dancing would be included this year. Discussion centred round the display to be made at the Winter Show, and indications point to a very interesting exhibition. The meeting approved unanimously the suggestion to consider ways and means of working with the Wellington provincial executive of the Women’s Division in their bush nurse and housekeeper scheme. A final decision with regard to the Paraparaumu holiday house was left to the executive committee.

At a subsequent meeting of tho executive, Airs W. G. Short and Airs Barnicoat were re-elected secretary and treasurer respectively. Airs R. Austin, a former president and secretary, sent greetings to the meeting. It was decided that the next halfyearly council meeting be held in Palmerston North.

A clear and helpful address was giyen by the Dominion president, Mrs W. Deans (Canterbury). Mrs Deans said that slie thought it was most' important, that members of the Dominion executive should learn to know members and their point’s of view, anr she stressed the. value of the individual touch, learning to know the members of the institutes was giving her a higher ideal of service. She pointed out that it was important that grown-ups should educate themselves in further ways, mentioning as ap example the question of diet. The w;omen of the country were responsible | for the health of its inhabitants, she said. She had noticed that institutes were becoming very keen and interested in the welfare of their districts,! and this should be encouraged. It. was most necessary that an interest should be taken in social welfare and hygiene. Mrs Deans urged the institutes to improve their handicrafts, and to make use of the artistic sense of members so gifted, particularly in regard, to colours and designs. She suggested that co-operative buying, more especially as regards oranges and fruit, by the institutes, might be thought over. It was necessary that more time and thought should be given to programme planning, in order to employ more the use of their own hands and brains. She recommended the idea of a “golden thread” through programmes, as suggested by Mrs Alfred Watt, whereby a subject might be studied, for perhaps a year by presenting different aspects of it at the meetings. Mrs Deans pointed out the wisdom of encouraging young people to become members, and of giving them plenty to do. One of the best . conducted meetings she had attended had bad a president of 21 years and a secretary of 19. Dealing with tlie financial aspect, the Dominion president said that .money raised by members should be spent in the interest and for the development of those members. It was announced that the Jvimbolton Institute had been voted the winner of the roll call. Opiki also received its prize for presenting the winning report at the last half-yearly council meeting. Mrs Barnicoat (voluntary organiser) and Mrs W. G. Short (federation representative) were elected to attend the round table conference in Wellington.