THE INSTITUTES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13090, 25 October 1935, Page 3

THE INSTITUTES.

BUSH-WAIRARAPA FEDERATION.

HALF-YEARLY OPERATIONS. The report presented at the halfyearly council meeting of the BushWairarapa Federation of Women’s Institutes, held at Hamua yesterday, is as follows: Your executive committee has. much pleasure in presenting the following report on the work in this Federation, to which you are all affiliated, for the period Ist May, 1935, to 24th October, 1935. Five committee meetings have been held, the first to elect the necessary officers, the other four having an average attendance of ten members, a tribute to the sustained

interest and desire for the well-be-ing of the Federation’s affairs. As you will have heard from the minutes of our last Council meeting, eleven out of the required twelve members were then elected, and Mrs F. W. Joblin, of Gladstone, was co-opted to fill the remaining seat. Since our last Council meeting this Federation has suffered a great loss in the passing of Mrs C. Walker of Mangatainoka. The late. Mrs M alker was elected president of the Mangatainoka Institute on the 4th April, 1928, and occupied the chair, seldom missing a meeting, until April of this year—seven years of loving leadership. Severe illness then overtook her and she was absent

for several months, then again presided at the monthly meeting held three weeks before her death. At its formation in 1928 Mangatainoka was in the Hawke’s Bay Federation, and at the formation meeting of the Wellington Provincial Federation on 11th October, 1928, Mrs Walker was elected an executive

committee member. When further division was made Mangatainoka was ? n the Northern Wellington Federation, and then on the 24tli May, 1934, the Bush-Wairarapa Federation was formed and Mrs alker was elected a member of that, your first, executive committee—and then last May, just a

year later, severe ill-health necessitated her resignation. During those seven years as an Institute member, an Institute president, and, for the greater part of the time, a I ederation executive committeewoman. our late- fellow member gave unstintingly of her time, her thoughts* her help and counsel, her handcraftness, and her ability to the progress of this movement—ever ready “to help, to serve, to comfort and to cheer.” Our hearts go out in sympathy to those members in various parts of

our Federation who have suffered the loss of dear ones, in many cases those who have passed away having been themselves members of our Institutes.

At the fifth annual general conference of Institutes, held in Auckland in July, this committee was represented by Mrs J. D. C. Crewe, and we feel sure that our Institutes will do the utmost to carry out the resolutions and recommendations that were then passed. To emphasise the value and importance of j this conference, our delegate has J visited several of our Institutes that | were unable to send a delegate of . their own, and, by giving an acj count of the proceedings, stressed the importance of every Institute in ' the Dominion being represented at ! this important gathering. With rc- ■ gard to the resolution passed at our last Council meeting urging the

planting, by all Institute members, of berry producing plants for food for our native birds, this was carried, in a slightly modified form, as ( suggested by Rissington Institute. The “hostess” Institute of opr gathering to-day is carrying this out by enclosing a small area in front of the Hamua Hall, the president supplying the netting and the hon. secretary donating the posts, and native trees are to be planted there —a proportion being berry-produc-ing for the birds. Organising: The voluntary organisers appointed in March have visit-

ed many Institutes and have formed new Institutes at Solway-Manaia, on 12th July; Cross Creek, on 30th July; and Ngawapitrua, on 6tli September, there now being a total of thirty-seven Institutes affiliated in this Federation. We would like ali our Institutes to realise that our four voluntary organisers are always available and will visit any Institute to give any help required. Drama, music and folk dancing: The festival conducted by the subcommittee in charge of these activities was an outstanding success, thirteen plays, eight folk dances and five glees being performed and judged at the sessions occupying one afternoon and the following whole day and evening. With some diffidence the King’s Theatre in Pahiatua was engaged, but the splendid attendance, particularly the packed house on the final night, fully justified the venture. The Federation owes a debt .of gratitude to the members of this sub-committee who, under their convenor. Miss Sargent,

and lion, secretary, Mrs Wylie, carried out this undertaking in such an efficient manner. Our thanks are due to those Institutes that produced the items that made the festival. The higher standard of technique compared with last festival, also the manner of production, in some cases almost professional, were pleasing features. We were again fortunate in our adjudicators, Mrs lan Cameron, of Mauric-eville, and

Messrs T. Garde Grimsliaw and J. W. Davidson, of Palmerston North, who placed the entrants as follow: Federation challenge cup for drama to Woodville Women’s Institute, Mangatainoka challenge cup for folk dancing to Konini Women’s Institute, Makomako challenge cup for gloe singing to Woodville Women's Institute and R. Young and Co.'s challenge: vase for most points to Woodville Women’s Institute. Mrs N M. Burnett’s challenge cup for a mixed team in drama was not awarded, as the only entering team was placed second. “Finance: The interim financial statement to be presented to you shows a credit balance of £46 Is 9d. To some this may seem a large credit, but we must refer to the pleasing fact that, in nearly every instance, our Institutes have met their obligations and helped us to ours by forwarding their affiliation fees, donations (both direct and through potato competition > and amounts towards our assessment of 10s per Institute for the Dominion Federation promptly. Tt this amount and half the affiliation fees—which lias, as you know, to be forwarded on to nc'adquarters—is deducted, as will be explained b\ our hon. treasurer in her budget, you will realise that the amount left will be only a reasonable one with which to carry on for the next six months. One item of our estimated income, viz., the potato competition, does not seem to be. quite understood, for of the thirty-one Institutes that were the probable entrants, about fourteen only have as yet forwarded the amount of money so raised. We would mention that the interim financial statement is to the 30th September, but the listattached contains affiliation fees and donations as to the 21st October. Calendar for 1930: We appreciate the action of Northern Wellington Federation in arranging that next year wo will receive a share of the proceeds of the sale of the 1936 calendar. One-tliird is to be paid to the Dominion Federation, one-third to he retained by the producers— Northern Wellington Federation—and we will receive a proportion of the (remaining third. So this beautiful production is fully worthy of our hearty support and it will Ik* seen I

that how much we receive will really depend on how much we have earned by the number of calendars we sell, and the extent to which we make it known. We have an added incentive in the fact that one of our executive members, Mrs X. M. Burnett, has again undertaken the huge task of distribution, and can assure her that we will do our best to make her work worth while. Show stalls: One of the means by which we bring our activities before possible members, and hear of localities where the residents wish an Institute to bo formed, is by handcraft exhibitions, a lid attendance at such with leaflets, etc., at the large agricultural shows. To have 1 olio wed this practice at Carterton this year would have prevented the Institute for the Blind from having space for a sales stall, so it was decided to stand down in their favour. We would refer to the fine display of handcrafts for an Institute competition at a function recently held at - Pongaroa, the variety ot articles and workman-hip being ot a high order. Health Stamp campaign: Throughout our Federation warm support is being accorded this worthy effort, the aims and objects or which will be known to you all. “Home and Country" : We would again draw attention to this, our own Institute Journal, and point out that the more there are. the larger its scope can become. We would like the editor, our own Mrs Burnett, to know in a practical manner than her own Federation appreciates her work. Badges, etc.: Thei e has been a steady demand for badges, membership cards and literature of all kinds, as can be seen from the financial statement. We would thank the Press throughout the Federation for the publicity and assistance so willingly given to all our interests and activities. In conclusion, your executive hopes for steady progress and happy gatherings in this, our Federation, in a large part of which our work is still in its infancy. Wo have main* Institutes still to form, and many channels to develop, to help forward our great movement, which is seeking ever to be ot benefit to our i oun trywomen.