WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 11

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

DOMINION CONFERENCE RAPID GROWTH OF MOVEMENT. (Peb United Pkesb Association) AUCKLAND, July 24. A" constant increase in the growth and stremrth of the Women's Institutes, in New Zealand was revealed in the report presented at the annual conference o£ the Dominion Federation of New Zealand Women's Institutes to-day. The number of institutes now affiliated, allowing for those closed down owing to the withdrawal of unemployment settlements and other reasons, was 824, the report stated. The continued growth of the number of institutes had enabled large areas to be broken up into more compact federations, of which there were now 27, while one district was administered by the Dominion Federation's Executive, Committee. The financial statement showed the sound position of the Dominion Federation's finance, there being 31,852 financial members, while the application fees had amounted to £398. The endowment fund, which now totalled £l5O, was explained in detail by Miss Jerome Spencer, founder of the movement in New Zealand.

The president (Mrs H. Paterson, of Pahiatua) said the members of the institutes were members of a great university. There was a possibility of the introduction of a rural library scheme in conjunction with a national scheme. She asked members to be ready for the scheme, so that they might carry it right into the backblocks. She appealed for the enrolment of more young women to vitalise the movement.