WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1935, Page 13

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

TARANAKI FEDERATION HALF-YEARLY COUNCIL MEETING. PROVINCIAL DELEGATES GATHER. The half-yearly council meeting, of the Taranaki Federation of Womens Institutes held at Stratford on Friday was attended by about 200 women from various parts of the province. The president, Mrs. W. Kaye, Inglewood, presided arid with her were associated Mesdames W. H. Morey (Tikorangi), vice-president, W. J. Smith (Inglewood) (secretary), A. Whitehead (Tikorangi), C. H. Brewer (Kaponga), A. McAsey (Te Roti), S. G. Larcom (Hawera), Misses A. Coleman (Ngaere) and E. Free (Normanby). Besides a large number of 'visitors the following iristitutes were officially represented by two delegates: Opunake, Ohawe, Whareroa, Tawhiti, Patea, Norfolk Road, Kaimata, Hurworth, Warea, Te Roti, Riverlea, Motonui, Kaponga, Te Roti, Riverlea, Motunui, Kaponga, Tariki, Eltham, Waitara, Tikorangi, Okaiawa, Upper Mangorei, Normanby, Kaimata, Mangatoki, Inglewood, Taiporohenui, Tarata, Ngaere, Turu Turu and Turi-Township. In her opening remarks the president welcomed the delegates and visitors ana stressed the value of meetings for their educational value and the personal contact they brought about, removing difficulties or misunderstandings that sometimes arose. She stressed the necessity for toleration and kindness to fellow members. She added a special word of welcome and encouragement for the newly formed institutes. Mrs. Kaye read a letter from the Mayor of Stratford, Mr. J. W. McMillan, regretting his inability through illness to be present to give a civic welcome. The executive’s half-yearly report presented by the secretary stated that the committee met four times, twice at Inglewood and twice at Normanby. Mrs. Kaye (voluntary organiser) reported the formation of two new institutes, Hurworth and Puketotara (Lower Mangorei), which brought the number in the federation to 38, with one junior circle. Round table conferences were held at Hawera and Waitara, conducted by Mrs. Kaye. New groups were formed at Patea and Warea.

A school for the training of voluntary organisers was held at Hawera at the end of June and was conducted by Miss Spencer. Drama festivals were held at Inglewood, Waitara, Normanby and Kaponga and were outstanding successes. A higher standard was achieved, proving that institutes were appreciating the educational value to be obtained from the study of drama. INSTITUTE EXHIBITIONS.

The following institutes staged a pantry exhibition at the Hawera show in June: Kakaramea, Ngaere, Normanby, Patea, Tawhiti, Te Roti, Turi-Town and Whareroa. A flower show and arts and crafts exhibition were held at Kaponga by members of the Kaponga institute, and the Eltham,, Kaponga, Mangatoki, Rawhitiroa and Te Roti institutes staged courts at the Eltham flower show. Ngaere was a successful competitor at the Strafford horticultural show. The potato growing competition was won by Tarata with an average of 261 b. The prize for the greatest weight of potatoes was yon by Mrs. Stanidsh (Tarata) with a total weight of 1181 b. The federation was represented at the Dominion conference at Auckland in July by Mrs. McAsey. There were 24 delegates from Taranaki. The exhibition of Taranaki handcrafts caused considerable interest and favourable comment, showing the skill and artistic ability of the members.

Affiliation with the National Council of Women enabled the federation to keep in touch with other organisations and gave the opportunity of hearing free discussion on all matters of importance to women. Having received a request from the Wanganui federation for assistance to obtain the reform asked for in a remit, “That the same franchise as that obtaining in the town be extended to rural electors for the election of representatives on hospital boards, harbour boards etc.,” the federation communicated with three members of Parliament in Taranaki and brought the remit before the notice of the National Council of Women. An appeal to the institutes to support the King’s jubilee cancer research fund met with a ready response and £l4 3s 9d was collected. On the recommendation brought forward at the last council meeting Mrs. Kaye's name was forwarded to the endowment fund comprising the roll of foundation friends. The financial statement presented by Miss Coleman was adopted showing a satisfactory financial position, EXECUTIVE’S ACTIVITIES. The president briefly commented on .{he report and gave explanations of the executive’s activities, bringing under delegates’ notice the welfare fund held by the executive, which might be applied for by institutes to bring comfort to distressed members. Mrs. Kaye also urged members to contribute something to the movement' by bringing suggestions to meetings. She urged them to strive for loyalty, courage and self-control which formed the whole fabric of the movement.

Mrs. Shaw, Turi-Town, spoke ap-, preciatively of the report and thanked the executive for its work. Correspondence was received from the Dominion executive asking for support for remits passed at the Dominion conference. ./

The North Hawkes Bay federation wrote drawing attention to the fact that it had formed an “Anti-litter League” and asking for co-operation from Taranaki. It was decided to support the suggestion. Three minute reports outlining the activities of institutes for the past six months were presented by delegates from Waitara, E.ltham, Inglewood, Kaimata, Tarata, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Norfolk, Ngaere, Normanby and Opunake. The winning report was presented by Mrs. Blackbourn, Kaimata, and a trophy was presented to her, the reports having been judged by popular vote. Tire trophies for the potato growing competitions were presented by Mrs. Kaye. The competition for- the greatest average weight of potatoes grown by institutes with more than 40 members was won by Mangatoki. After luncheon Mrs. M. Arthur, New Plymouth, delivered an excellent address on “Art in Handicraft.” After the address remits brought forward by institutes were considered. A remit asking that in future the potato growing competition be limited to nine roots a year was carried. It was also decided that 5s deposit be charged drama circles entering plays in women’s institute festivals one month before the festival, the money to be refunded after the festival.

After discussing a remit regarding the alarm caused by the extensive use of margarine in New Zealand, it was decided that all members be urged not to use margerine in their homes and that the practice was not in the best interests of health. It was decided that the annual council meeting next April should take place at Stratford, that being the most central position for Taranaki. A competition for the best worked president’s table cloth was won by Ngaere, with Upper Mangorei second. Mesdames A. W. White and F. Bowler were judges. The members of the Ngaere institute arranged the decorations in the hall and served morning, tea for the visitors.