Group Meeting of Women’s Institutes

Te Puke Times, 6 April 1934, Page 2

Group Meeting of Women’s Institutes

The first group meeting of Women’s Institutes to be held in this district took place on Tuesday last when members from Papamoa, Paengaroa, Pukebina and Te Puke gathered together to welcome and listen to Mrs Kelso, Do minion Organiser, who is visiting the Bay of Plenty Federation. Mrs Gemming presided over ah attendance of about 50 ao,d the meeting opened with the hearty singing of the Institute song, “Comrades . and Friends”. Mrs Hansen, was pianist. The Secretary then read the W.I. Creed, members standing the while. Mrs Gemming then welcomed the visitors and introduced Mrs Withy, President of the Bay of Plenty Federation, who spoke a few words, saying how pleased members were to have Mrs Kelso amongst them and that she. hoped all those present would meet her again in TaUranga next Tuesday, when she would speak at the federation Annual Council

Mrs Kelso, whose humorous a outlook and oharm of manner pap tivated all who met her, then spoke at length on Institute mat ters, She stressed the fact that all Institutes, large and small, are equally important and equally represented at head quarters, aud that the Dominion Executive was acquainted with the name and position of even the smallest remotest and most newly formed Institute in New Zealand. There are, she said, now 700 Institutes, comprising 30,000 members who are organised and learning to make decisions for themselves, . to condnct meetings, and Voice their opinions in the proper manner, and to abide by the will of the majority, and who are becoming a great power in the land. "But,” she continued, "We are not aggressive. Co-operation is our middle name, and we prefer to help the cause that needs assistance, not to take the reins”. The speaker then enumerated the advantages of Institutes being formed into groups, to facilitate the engaging of lecturers etc. She called for nominations for the position of Convener for the group represented by the meeting and Mrs Bear of Papamoa, was unanimously chosen. A Committee is to be formed later and group meetings held twice a year, At the conclusion of Mrs Kel so’s address, afternoon tea was served and a social half honr in dulged in, after which members took the opportunity of asking Mrs Kelso questions. With re gard to Red Cross work Mrs Kelso said that Institutes would always be ready to work in with the Red Cross Society when occasion demanded as they had done in Murchison and Hawkes Bay after earthquakes, Mrs Kelso then invited as many members as could possibly make the trip, to go to Wellington in 1 Juno to attend the Dominion Cob J fcrenCe. When Mrs Kelso had answered further questions she j Was aboorded a Very hearty Vote of thanks, and the meeting Closed with the singing of the National Anthem,