Women’s Institutes

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7106, 15 March 1933, Page 2

Women’s Institutes

NEW FEDERATION FORMED Onco again tho Provincial Federation has found it necessary in eonsequonco of its rapid growth, to split into threo parts. Last year Taranaki, and Nclson-Marlborough Women’s In-j statutes started a separate existence, I but during tho last year tho number oLT Women’s Institute's in tho parent Fed-] oration has again reached S 9, and in; order to facilitate working, has been] divided into Wanganui, Northern Wol-i lingt-on and Southern Wellington. The! latter held its inaugural meeting on Friday last in tho Dominion Farmers’ Building, Wellington. Every Institute concerned save that of Ohariu, tho ‘'new-born babe,” was represented as were also Pahiatua, (Mosdamcs Patterson and Hamilton), Waipawa (Mrs Baker), and Rissington (Mrs Hutchinson and Miss Corrigan), Mrs Kelso occupied tho chair and wolcomed the delegates. She was supported on the platform by Miss Jerome Spencer, the founder of tho New Zealand Womon’s Institute's. Mesdames J. D. 0 Crewe and Austin, President and Secretary respectively of Wellington Federation. After the singing of: "Comrades and Friends,” and tho roll call, Mrs Kelso briefly traced the growth of the movement from the time of Miss Spencer’s return from her last visit home, and paid glowing tribute to Miss Spencer’s life and work, linking with her name that of Mrs Hutchinson who, though not so much to the fore, had shared the ‘‘burden and the heat of the day” to a large extent, with Miss Spencer. Mrs ,T. D. C. Crewe, who was received with applause, followed, and said that her feelings were mixed. She felt sorrow at losing the prospect of periodical reunions with so many friends, and joy at forming the now Federation—evidence of the sturdy and continued growth of the movement. She stressed the importance of the Women’s Institutes, bearing in mind that their conduct reflected on the whole movement and urged that all should attend the council meetings and thus do their part in carrying on the work. South Wellington Federation, she pointed out, having its headquarters in the capital city, would be a most important and useful federation, for on it would devolve the work of making many of the local arrangements for holding Dominion functions. Tho keynote she wished to leave with the members was "Service”—willingness to All any post for tho good of the movement. ‘‘Keep tho dignity of the movement clear,” she said, "Never lower your flag. Remember fear, hatred and bickoring must go. Put service first!” Tho next speaker was Mrs Austin, whose work as secretary of the Wellington Federation was eulogised by all speakers during tho meeting. She too, regretted losing the Southern Wellington Institutes, but realised that the break was necessary for the good of the whole, and gave her heartiest greetings and good wishes to the new federation.

Mrs Austin touched upon tho matter of finance and urged delegates to impress upon their Institutes tho necessity for the payment of affiliation fees. “Theso aro not a levy," sho said, "as so many think, but a part of your subscription towards enabling tho Federations to make possible the benefits and privileges we all enjoy. Learn to look on tho payment of an affiliation fee as a privilege.” Mrs Patterson also conveyed greetings and referred to Miss Spencer as the “Architect and Builder of New Zealand’s Wom.on’3 Institutes,” and described it happily as an “all-embracing movement.” Hearty applause greeted Miss Jerome Spencer as sho rose to deliver the inaugural address of tho new Federation. Sho based her talk on "The What and Why of a Federation and What thoy do.” “Tho essential parts of tho movement,” said Miss Spencer, “are the institutes themselves, everything depends upon them and their individual members. That is the secret of the success of tho movement. Tho members control the federation and not vice versa. The federations aro unions of institutes for the benefit of the whole movement and the Dominion Federation binds tho whole. True democracy is the governing of yourselves through your council. Remind yourselves of that! A Federation is not a controlling body—the members have the last word.” Miss Spencer wont, on to explain tho necessity for splitting tho federations as they became unwieldy through growth; and showed how the smaller

federations mado for closer contact and therefore greator benefit to tho Women’s Institutes themselves. Sho 'further stressed that the Federation Committee members represented no individual institute —theirs must be the broader view of the work and urged that in electing the members of the new committee, delegates should choose those who would serve the Federation as a whole. The election ballot for the new committee was then taken and resulted: — Miss Maddever (president), Mrs. Scott (Secretary), Mrs Ross Treasurer), Mesdames Hassall, Boyes, Atkins, Gibson, Young, White, Kelso and Keatheote. Mr 3 Kelso, in closing the meeting, gave some remarkable approximate comparative statistics of tho membership in Britain and New Zealand, in which the latter compared more than favourably. She also announced that Miss Amy Kane, of tho Pioneer Club Circle, had consented to act as interim Dominion chairman, and paid tribute to the kindness and hospitality always shown by that Club to the Women’s Institutes. Miss Kane replied briefly, expressing the desire of herself and her Club to do all in their power to forward the movement.

MISS SPENCER EAREWELLED.

On resuming after lunch the function took tho form of a farewell to Miss Spencer prior to her departure that af-<

ternoon on a holiday visit overseas. Miss Maddovor was asked to preside and after returning thanks for her election as president of the new federation, she spoke of tho love and esteem in which Miss Spencer was held by all, of the wonderful work she had done for tho Institutes and how much she was going to bo missed. Miss Spencer was 'leaving behind her 30,000 sisters but | they would all bo there to wolcome her when she returned. She handed [to Miss Spencer a special message from itho Institutes of tho Dominion to tutor [sister Institutes in any country she j might be visiting. | By this time there was a big gathering of members from all parts to bid farewell to Miss Spencer, who was the recipient of many floral tributes, each conveying a message of lovo and goodwill. Mrs J. D. Crewe, in a foe'ling manner said that they had gathered to bid farewell to their loved founder. It was twelve years ago since sho had formed the first Institute at Rissington, (Hawke’s Bay), after her return from the Old Country and as Miss Spencer had brought back such a wonderful gift to tho women of New Zealand on that occasion, Mrs Crewe wondered what wonderful thing Miss Spencer would bring back this time, but it would havo to bo wonderful to bo better than tho Womens’ Institute movement. She had devotod her time, her energies, her money and her strength to forwarding that organisation and the speaker wished her a well-earnod rest, and trusted that she would return to New Zealand to assist them with her counsel, renewod in health and vigour. When she returned from England whether she took a prominent pa.rt or a minor part she would still be Miss Spencer, the founder of. our movement in. New Zealand, and her name would go down to posterity. Mrs Crewe asked Miss Spencer to accept a lacobark purse, made and donated by Mesdamos L. D. and W. Brown of Norfolk Institute, Taranaki, which contained choques from Institutes all over New Zealand. Every one of these donations had been accompanied by messages of good-Will, and loving greetings, wishing Miss Spencer a lovely holiday and a safe return to New Zealand. She had endeared herself to them all by her gracious and kindly manner and Mrs Crewe concluded by wishing her “Godspeed,” a lovely holiday and a safe return.

Miss Sponcer in a delightful way thanked the New Zealand institutes for their wishes, their gifts and their loyal devotion to their movement. “I feel that these lovely flowers symbolise the beauty and loveliness of our movement and long after they have faded they will remain in my memory. The beautiful purse is another symbol and that which is inside will, I know, enable me while I am in England to do more work for our Institutes out here,” she said. On resuming her seat, Miss Spencer was accorded musical honours.

Mrs Hutchinson, Rissington, spoke of the many happy things that Miss Spencer had gradually abandoned as the institute movement took up more and more of her time until all her energies were devoted to it. Sho referred to that something which Miss Spencer had put into the movement and which was 1 behind all the activities and fellowship, and that was “love.” She spoke as a personal friend of many years and of her knowledge that Miss Spencer had literally given herself to the Institutes.

Mrs Paterson, Pahiatua, added her tribute, and stated that Miss Spencer had built an enduring monument of love and loyalty in the hearts of her fellow members and that all wouiu watch with keen interest for reports of her travels and. experiences and anxiously await her return after her much needed rest-, necessitated through It! years of unceasing work. Mrs Gibson-Young, a member of the Executive of the Dominion Federation spoke of the many places Miss Spencei would visit and of the honour to Now Zealand in having such a representative at tho various conferences she would attend as delegato from Institutes, Red Cross Society, etc. On. behalf of her fellow members who were unable to be present with them that day she wished Miss Spencer “God Speed” ana a safe return.

Miss Kane spoke on behalf of the women of New Zealand as a whole, not only from tho viewpoint of an Institute member, and said the work of Miss Spencer appealed to women of all organisations. She wished her a pleasant trip and a safe homo coming. Mrs Kelso was the final speaker, ana in a warm, happy, sincere manner she summed up all the tributes that had been paid to Miss Spencer, referring to Mrs Paterson’s description as “the builder and. architect,” stressing the atmosphere of love, cheer aud good wishes that had marked that wonderful gathering. A momentous day in the Institute movement closed with the singing of ‘‘Auld Lang Syne” at Miss Spencer’s special request, all present joining hands row npon row and up to the the platform. At the (Queen’s Wharf Institute members again gathered in large numbers and the scene was a very beautiful one as tho “Monowai” glided out. The curtain of streamers from 'those on board to those on the wharf I gradually snapping, the band playing j“Auld Lang Syne,” the beflagged boat I (she had only that morning returned |from the trip to the Sounds), and the ■mirror-like sea will bo a lasting memory of a fitting send-off to a loved leader by all who took part.