WOMEN'S INSTITUTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 5

WOMEN'S INSTITUTIONS.

PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND.

The wonderful development of the women's institute movement in Canada and Great Britain formed the subject of as address to the Auckland Rotary Cluh yesterday hy Miss A. Jerome Spencer, of Hawke's Bay. Miss Spencer was instrumental in forming the first women's institute in New Zealand.

Speaking of the history of the movement, Miss Spencer said it began in Canada about 25 years ago. Its importance was recognised in Great Eiritain in 1915 when food problems became acute. The Government thought the women's institute could help and that was the begin ning in England. To-day there were some 6600 women's institutes in Great Britain.

Miss Spencur said women's institutes were entirely non sectarian and non party and studied" no social distinction. Any woman could belong to a branch. Meetings wore held once a month and the aim of the programmes was to give the members something to hear, to see and to do. Her Majesty the Queen was a member of the Sandrmghain Institute and often attended its meetings. On one occasion she joined in a game of musical chairs with members. (Laughter). Referring to immigration, Mis.s Spencer said the great problem with immigrants was to get them to settle in the back blocks. She claimed that women's institutes were able to do much in overcoming these difficulties, for they would establish social life in outback centres and make conditions more pleasant.