Bush District Federation Of Women’s Institutes

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 98, 28 April 1939, Page 2

Bush District Federation Of Women’s Institutes

ANNUAL MEETING AT WOODVILLE The annual council meeting of Bush District Federation of Women’s Institutes was held in the Institute Hall, Woodville, yesterday, Mrs. W. G. Macky, of Eketahuna, presiding over a large attendance representative of 17 institutes. Associated with Mrs. Macky were the following members of the executive:—Mesdames R. C. Austin (Pahiatua, secretary), T. Clarke (Pahiatua), W. R. Coulter (Ngawapurua), J. Dick (Hastwells), S. J. Hobbs (Hamua), C. Jennings (Makino), W. H. Nixon (Woodville, treasurer) and T. Avery Weston (Alfredton). The hall had been charmingly decorated by Woodville members, the hostess institute, with large bowls of hydrangeas, dahlias, Michaelmas daisies, i>aims and autumn foliage. Mesdames H. P. Horne and E. Harding, acting president and secretary of Woodville Institute, welcomed members at the door and proceedings were entered upon with tho "Ode," aspirations and a prayer for peace. A formal welcome to Woodville was extended by the Mayor, Mr. R. R. Johnston, who was accompanied by Mrs. Johnston. Mr. Johnston returned thanks for the invitation to be present at the first council meeting of this new federation and extended a cordial welcome to Woodville. He referred to the many good works so evident in the Institute activities from a man's point of view, and lie felt as it was in tho borough of Woodville so it must be wherever the institutes operated throughout New Zealand. Ho expressed tho hope tho deliberations would bo successful and the new federation flourish as had the old one. Should a crisis arise, Mr. Johnston felt the institutes would be the first to offer their executive organisation.

A bouquet was presented to Mrs. Johnston, who returned thanks. . Mrs. Horne conveyed a welcome from Woodville and the surrounding districts. It was sad, she said, that at the first council meeting held in this hall Mrs. Burnett, to whose generosity its achievement was due very largely, should be absent. It was gratifying to note that Bush-Wairarapa had provided the first Dominion president in Mrs. H. Paterson and tho first delegate to A.C.W.W., the editor of "Home and Country,' ’ in Mrs. Burnett, now also an official delegate. Woodville felt particularly gratified that Miss Jerome Spencer was to bo the speaker, because she had formed Woodville on March 17, 1925, and it was particularly fitting that Mrs. B. H. Norman, the first president, that day was co-hostess as president of Kumeroa-Hopelands. Mrs. Horne then asked that Woodville be considered as the venue for the second annual council meeting, when Mrs. Burnett herself would be in attendance. Returning thanks to Mrs. Horne, Mrs. Ma-cky said this was a great occasion in that it was the first time the annual meeting had been held in a home of their own. She congratulated Woodville on its warm welcome and expressed the hope that tho meeting would prove a happy one to all. Bouquets were presented to Mesdames Horne, Macky, Austin and Nixon and shoulder sprays to members of the executive. There were apologies from the Wairarapa Federation, Nireaha, Horoeka and Pongaroa and Rakanui Institutes and greetings from Miss Walters, Wairarapa Federation, v Annual Report The annual report was presented by the secretary as follows: * * The last council meeting of the Bush-Wairarapa Federation was held in Eketahuna on October 21, 1938, and on November 2, in Masterton, was held a meeting for the formation, by the Dominion federation, of 15 of our institutes into the Wairarapa Federation, with Mrs. F. W. Joblin, of Gladstone, as its first president. This area was left with eight executive members. Mrs. E. Baden Watson tendered her resignation; we all hope that she will be able to assist our federation again. To comply with our constitution two members were co-opted —Mrs. W. R. Coulter (Ngawapurua) and Mrs. J. Dick (Hastweils). Mrs. C. Jennings was elected a vice-president in place of Mrs. Keir, who was in the Wairarapa area. At the final council meeting all combined to pay a tribute to the work of the treasurer, Mrs. W. H. Nixon, by presenting her with the gold honours badge. 4 * it is with much regret that we have learned that Mrs. Macky will be leaving this district shortly. It was with pleasure that wo learned Mrs. N. M. Burnett had been appointed an official delegate to tho Associated Country Women of tho World Conference. ‘ ‘ Our expenses during the last 12 months have been heavy, and we have a very small credit balance, £4 7s 9d, but all our liabilities to the Dominion federation and in other ways have been fully met. We regret that the Kaitawa institute, formed iu November, 1930, has found it necessary to go into recess in the meantime, owing largely to a fluctuating population in the district, and also that Ballance Institute, formed in October, 1930, is unable to carry on and is asking permission to close down. We wish the first president and full elected committee of the federation every success and happiness in the coming year." Moving the adoption of the report, Mrs. Macky referred to the great changes in the federation. She Hoped Busii District Federation would not feel they were just something left from the past but would rally round their new leader, making a new start with fresh strength. The report was adopted. The election for an executive of ten from 22 nominations then took place, Messrs. W. Nixon and F. Mackie acting as tellers.

A cordial welcome was extended to Mesdames W. G. Short, A. McCorkindale and Miss M. Grant, Mrs. Short conveying grettings from tho nowlyformed Oroua Federation, Miss Grant from Manawatu and Mrs. McCorkindale adding her good wishes. Mrs. Wylio presented tho report of