WOMEN'S INSTITUTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 7

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES.

A largely-attended meeting at Henderson on Tuesday marked the foundation of another Women's Institute in the Auckland district, making the twelfth now operating in the North Island. The movement is spreading rapidly, and there is no doubt that it has gained a firm footing in New Zealand, and that important developments may be looked for during the next year or two Published statistics state that nearly four thousand institutes exist in England at the present time, while in Canada, which is the birthplace of the movement, the membership has reached something like a quarter of a million.

Politicians were quick to see tho importance of the work of women's institutes, which seek to add interest to country life, and the Agricultural Department responded readily to demands for help, both by means of financial support and by supplying instructors and giving advice on matters connected with food production. The British Government realised that an organisation which sought to revive interest in agricultural life and country pursuits was likely to become an invaluable support to the "back to the land" policy, and was deserving of every support they could supply. Kesults have more than justified the faith of the organisers, for the remarkable stage has now been reached when no more financial support is required from the authorities. A local institute is a group of women who meet together to discuss matters of interest to them all, irrespective of rank, creed or politics, to arrange social meetings, courses of instruction and to exchange ideas on domestic matters. No stereotyped programme is followed, each institute following its own self-develop-ment and benefiting by co-oper&Mon with other institutes in the neighbouring townships or settlements. The organiser visits the institutes when possible, to assist with advice as to nrethods which have been found successful elsewhere, bat generally each branch manages its own affairs and arranges programmes independently. Instructors are available in such subjects as poultry-rearing, rug-making, skincuring, lacemaking, millmery and spinning and weaving, and a very high standard of efficiency has been reached in England by many of the rural workers. A remarkable revival of half-forgotten arts and handicrafts has followed in the train of the institutes, enthusiastic workers having diligently sought out the few remaining old people who alone had knowledge of the ancient village industries such as pillow and thread lace. A similar revival of the Maori arts of basketweaving and flax-plaitina, might be made possible with the establishment of the j institutes in New Zealand.