WOMEN’S INSTITUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 14

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE.

Formation of Gardening Circles. WORK OF THE BRANCHES. One of the aims of Women's Institutes is to raise the standard of living, not by the introduction of greater luxuries or more extravagant spending, but by the cultivation and better use of all the good things already on every “ana. With this end in view many institu.es are forming gardening circles, with a view to assisting food production, and are holding demonstrations of cooking and food preservation in order to show how to get the best results for the least outlay. . , _ Many gardening circles arc selling their surplus products in aid ot rener centres, or else donating the actua. goods to the same cause. The Wellington Federation has recommended that community service should be rendered by its institutes, in arranging for the collection of all surplus seeds and distributing them through the local Relief Committee to the unemployed for use in their gardens. Duvauchelle. The monthly meeting of the Duvauchelle Women’s Institute was held in the club room. Mrs Lewthwaite presided over a good attendance. A one-egg cake competition was won by Miss Jean M’Kay, with Miss Jean Haglund second. A debate, “ Should skirts be long or short?” caused much amusement and resulted in the affirmative side winning by one vote. Acting on a member's suggestion, it was decided to purchase nuiterial to make garments for needy women and children, and an afternoon for this purpose will be held in the club room. A tennis competition was held. Three ladies tied for first place, Mrs Haines proving the winner. Okains Bay. Mrs A. Ware presided at tlj.e monthly meeting of the Okains Bay Institute, held in the hall. There was an attenL ance of twenty members, also several ladies from the Okains Bay Guild. One new member was enrolled. A letter was received from Mrs R. C. Mason offering to give a demonstration on moccasinmaking. Mrs Mason’s offer was accented and a vote of thanks accorded her. The monthly competition, “A white but-ter-spc nge,” was won by Mrs H. J. Mason, with Miss W. Robinson second. Mrs A. Ware and Mrs R. C. Mason reported on the conference held in Christchurch. Parcels from the Radies’ Guild and Women’s Institute members, to be sent to the Relief Depot, were opened. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mesdamos Robert Hartley, IT. Hartley and H. J. Mason. Little River. The monthly meeting of the Little River branch of the Women's Institute was held in the Coronatic-n Library. Mrs Pitt presided over a large attendance. An address was given by Mrs A. I. Fraer, of Christchurch, on the work of the League of Nations. An offer to give a demonstration on wreath and bcuquet making was accepted, the date to be arranged later. Mrs Trail gave an outline of the business at the meteing of delegates held at Christchurch recently fcr the purpose of forming a North Canterbury Federation. The hostesses for the. afternoon were Mesdames Shirley and Lewthwaite, Misses Irene and Josephine Keenan. Brebbleton. The committee of the newly-formed Women’s Institute met in the Prebbleton Library. Mrs Askin presided over a full attendance. Both the president and the secretary, Mrs Clarke, outlined the procedure to be observed at. the general meetings. It was agreed that the meetings should be held in the library. It was also decided to proceed with the arrangements made for a sixpenny bring-and-buy stall at the May meeting, and to hold a competition in connection with the contents of the parcels. Mrs Millar agreed to give a demonstration of rug-making at the June meeting. Springston South. The Springston branch of the Women’s Institute met in the Springston South Flail. Mrs J. W. Kime presided. Several new members were enrolled. A competition, something made from old stockings, resulted:—Miss S. Smith 3, Mrs N. Powell 2. Miss A. Marshall 3. The judges were Mrs Milne and Miss Bell. A demonstration on paper flower making was given by Miss Bell, of the D.1.C., Christchurch. It was decided to hold a ” birthday ” on July 29. Mrs W. Mounce offered to make a birthday cake and Miss Gilmore offered to ice it. An invitation from the Brookside Institute to attend its meeting was accepted by about thirty members. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mesdames H. Flamilton. N. Powell, T. J. Kimber and Miss G. Rowell. The next meeting will be at Springston, when the roll call will be ‘‘My Pet Economy,” and the competition a decorated coat hanger. Gifts of left-off clothing for the unemployed will be accepted. Ashburton. A meeting of the Ashburton District Women’s Institute was held in the Tancred Street Hall on Wednesday after-

noon, the president (Mrs E. A. Cockroft) being in the chair. Mrs J. F. Chambers was elected vice-president and Misses M. Taylor and E. Watson were elected to vacancies on the committee. Mrs F. Curtis was appointed a delegate to the annual conference to be held in Wellington in July. Prizes for an adults’ tweed frock and a child’s tweed frock made from Ashburton tweed were won by Miss G. Oakley and Miss M. M’Donnell respectively. The prizes were donated by Mrs A. Lane, who was accorded a vote of thanks. Items were contributed by Misses W. Andrew and Slater. A comprehensive display of New Zealand-made goods was made by local firms. An address was delivered bv Miss L. Tabart, president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, who advocated the purchase of New Zealandmade goods. Miss Tabart was accorded a vote of thanks. Leeston. The Lee-ston Women’s Institute held a social evening in the Presbyterian Sunday School Flail on Monday, an excellent concert being given by local artists. Mrs T. Holley presided over an attendance of about sixty. The programme presented was of a high standard. The following took part::—Mesdames Les Harvey, Felton, Ryde, Misses J. and S. Bowis. T-lade, N. Beamsley, Doak and Peggy M’lntyre. Brookside. The Brookside Women’s Institute entertained its neighbouring institutes recently. There was an attendance of 100. After the xiresident had welcomed the visitors an address on " Early Brookside ” was delivered by Mrs J. Boag. Songs were given by Mesdames Croy and Gardiner, recitation by Miss Agnes Scott and a dialogue by members of the Leeston Institute. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Greaves and M’Callum. At the close of the meeting, Mrs Joseph Brooks expressed thanks to all who had journeyed distances to enjoy the Brookside institute's hospitality. Mesdames Kime. Johnston and Wilson retured thanks on behalf of Springston. Leeston and Southbridge. Sheffield. Mrs W. Deans presided over the monthly meeting of the Sheffield Women’s Institute, which was held in the Town Hall recently. A report of the delegates’ meeting was read by Mrs Deans. It was decided not to send a delegate to Wellington. Dr C. FT. Reid gave an interesting address on ‘‘Everyday Accidents.” Mesdames Black, D. Deans, J. Brown and W. Gamble were the hostesses. The competition for next meeting is for the best article made from a sugar bag. Mrs Beaty will give a demonstration on the making of seagrass stools. Before the conclusion of the meeting the members joined in community singing.