WORK OF INSTITUTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 6

WORK OF INSTITUTES.

Address by Dominion President. SUBJECTS TO BE STUDIED. The part that's women’s institutes could play in many spheres of life was stressed by Mrs H. Patterson, the Dominion president in an address given yesterday to the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Federation of Women’s Institutes. The institutes were a great force in the country and could do more Mrs Patterson said she had been interested to see the progress made bv the federation The suffrage movement did a great deal for women, for it was out of the movement —a preparation for women of that time to take on war work and to adapt their minds to new times—that the institute sprang up. When institutes were established, they spread rapidly, enabling women to find an outlet and do much valuable work. Strong in Ideas. Touching on the question of peace, she said that the matter rested largely with women. In her opinion, much more could be done towards peace if women tinned their attention to it. A strong pro-peace sentiment should be fostered The question need not be asked: “ Are we in favour of peace?” If women were going to be real Em-pire-builders they must begin in their own homes. “ Health is a subject which at one time wqs not thought to be very important, but when we see the League of Nations and other international bodies devoting time to health matters its importance must be realised,” continued Mrs Patterson. “ Women’s institutes are now taking an interest in health and I think they should take a greater interest. Women also should take an interest in the hospitals and find out all they can about their working.’ Interest In Education. Education in its widest sense was another subject in which women could play a part, she continued. Not only academic education, but all its branches, were of great interest to women. It had been said by a great English educationist and women’s institute member that the institutes were the greatest educational force in that country. The statement was true in a smaller sense of New Zealand, and the. institutes, by their educational activities, were doing valuable work. If members were going to make the most of their resources, every woman would have to do something definite and tangible. Mrs Patterson suggested that members should take up some special line of study, such as education or peace, and thus have specialised information for other members. This information could be passed round. If institutes would progress to a greater future and power, they should follow this aim.