Women’s Institutes

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 8

Women’s Institutes

TABLE FLAT. The final committee meeting of the year was held on Friday in conjunction with the atser competition. Those present were Mesdames H. Jensen (president); E. Miller, D. Hogan, J. Kilgour, Misses R. Elliott (secretary); A. Kearney (treasurer); M. Pettigrew and P. Hogan. The S.A.R. box group lectures were discussed and a group was formed. It was decided that meetings be beld on the second and fourth Wednesday in the month beginning on Wednesday the 23rd. Arrangements for the annual meeting were finalised. Airs and Miss Pettigrew are to be hostesses and Miss Hogan is the competition steward. There are four competitions for this day, namely:—Article in plain machine sewing, collection of 12 asters, cream puffs and the garden circle competition for the best bloom. Miss E. Jensen was appointed as agent for “Home and Country.” Mrs Pettigrew has kindly invited the garden circle members and friends to her home on Tuesday afternoon. Those present who were not on the committee took the opportunity to tidy the school gardens. Mrs Kilgour and Miss Kearney kindly acted as judges of the asters. The. crystal vase specially donated for the champion bloom was won by Mrs Miller, who also gained second place with Airs H. Jen-

sen third. Three blooms, Airs H. Jensen 1, Miss E. Alalcolm 2, Airs D. Hogan 3. Six blooms, Miss E. Jensen 1, Mrs Miller and Mrs H. Jensen 2, Aliss P. Hogan 3. Decorative bowl of asters, Airs H. Jensen 1, Miss P. Hogan 2, Aliss E. Jensen 3. The prize for the competitor having most points and not gaining a prizo went to Aliss E. Alalcolm. Those gaining the most points in the various sections over the past year arc:—Cooking, Airs H. Jensen and Airs D. Hogan 1, Airs T. Elliott and Aliss E. Alalcolm 2, Aliss A. Kearney 3. Flowers, Airs H. Jensen 1, Mrs and Miss Pettigrew 2, Miss E. Alalcolm 3. Arts and crafts, Aliss E. Pettigrew 1. Aliss P. Hogan 2, Airs H. Jensen 3. Most entries, Airs H. Jensen 1, Miss M. Pettigrew 2, Aliss P. Hogan 3. As the prize in this section is presented to the competitor who has not received a first prize in other sections, the winner will be Miss Hogan with Aliss E. Jensen 2. RONGOTEA. At the annual meeting Mrs H . V. Caverhill presided over a fair attendance of members. Aliss Grant and Airs W. G. Short, president and secretary of the provincial executive, were present and were heartily welcomed. The president. in reporting on tho annual picnic mentioned that a showery morning had spoiled the attendance, but some twenty members spent a most enjoyable time at the Esplanade, Palmerston North. Airs W. Foster’s resignation as a member was received with regret. Airs Foster was becoming a member of the Glen Oroua institute but would always remember her happy association with Rongotea. Annual meetings both of the provincial federation and of the Dominion council were discussed, the meeting nominating Mesdames Will and Caverhill to stand for the provincial executive, while Airs Sandereock and Miss L. Davis wore elected delegates to the provincial council meeting. The institute members wore unanimous in wishing to send a delegate to the Dominion conference in July. Airs Caverhill made an appeal to members to take Home and Country, pointing out that it is the Institute’s own paper containing much of interest to all members. Airs Roy Scott was again appointed agent for the magazine. The trading stall, which is usually well stocked and patronised, is to be in charge of the Misses Lorna Davis and Lorna Ransom, while the competition stewards for the coming year are Miss AI. Arnott and Airs C. Davison. Airs Collins, hon. secretary, presented the annual report, which showed that a very progressive and happy year had been spent. Several ‘schools” had been held for various handicrafts and these had been most enthusiastically attended. The drama circle had been a live one, and the innovation of a singing circle had proved most enjoyable. The president, in raov* ing the adoption of the report, said the secretary had covered the whole year’s work very fully, and it was left to her to thank the members for their whole hearted support and encouragement during the year. {Special thanks were due to Airs Collins, who in her capacity as secretary had a tremendous amount of work to do and always did it thoroughly. {She also thunked her committee for their support and harmonious manner in which they all worked together. The institute was just entering on its tenth year and in looking back over the books, as far back as the first books entered up in 1928, she realised the same spirit had prevailed throughout and felt that the Rongotea Institute had fully justified its existence. The financial statement was read and adopted. The institute was in a very sound position, showing a comfortable credit balance which seemed a good omen for the coming year. Airs W. G. Short complimented the treasurer on her statement, saying that it indicated careful handling of the funds and that the institute had fulfilled its obligations to both the provincial executive and Dominion federation. In reporting on the drama circle and also the singing circle. Airs Churchill appealed to members to support both, mentioning that an audience of members at the monthly meetings of the drama circle did much to cncourago and heli> the players, criticism being sometimes asked from them. The singing circle had commenced late in tho year but members were enthusiast its and they had provided items for the institute and had visited a sister institute to assist with the programme. It was to be hoped that more member* would join the singing circle this year* As there was an election for the committee, the Alisscs E. Knight and M. Will were appointed tellers, with Mr H. V. Caverhill as scrutineer. The newr committee is as follows:—Alesdame* Bower, A. Burgess, T. Collins, W. A* Churchill, Friedrich, Gust, Jessop, AlcKay, tho Alisscs L. Davis, J. Fades, Renall and Richfield. The ballot for president resulted in the election of Airs AtcKay. After afternoon tea Miss Grant spoke on tho scheme which is being launched by the Provincial Executive in co-operation with Aliss Johnson, dealing with nutrition and diet. The subject was covered fairly fully in the short time at the disposal of the speaker, who asked the institute to consider the inclusion of this as a golden thread, when planning their year's programme. Miss Grant also spoke on the work of the drama circles and appealed to members to keep up the standard, which in this federation had become a really high one. »She stated that the council of the Drama League were doing all in their power to watch the interests of affiliated societies with regard to royalties. There were a number of entries for the competition for a child’s frock. This was judged by Airs W. G. Short, the awards being as follows:—Seniors, Mrs Trenkner 1, Mrs AlcKay 2, Mesdames Will and A. Pedley (equal) 3. Juniors, Aliss E. Knight 1, Miss M. Will 2, Miss J. Ritchfield 3. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Eadcs, Hill, McKay and Scott.