WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 177, 29 July 1932, Page 2

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

GENERAL CONFERENCE HIS EXCELLENCY’S MESSAGE Delegates from all parts of New Zealand, from as far north as Whangarei and from the Bluff in the South Island assembled in Wellington for the General Conference of New Zealand Women’s Institutes, which opened on Wednesday. The Institute’s song was sung, and after the roll call, Miss Jerome Spencer, chairwoman of the central executive, spoke. Miss Spencer expressed plasuro at greeting such a wonderfully large meeting, and said that it was a wonderful tribute to the movement. They were at the conference, she said, to discuss their work from two aspects—the internal development of the movement, and its work in the country for the good of the country. Miss Spencer thought the day was going to prove that they wero united in working for “this fine and noble movement” in the Dominion. That was the spirit that was behind the movement, and that was the spirit that was going to be manifest throughout the day.

The speaker pointed out during the last six months the movement in New Zealand had increased by an enormous number of institutes, with altogether a membership of 20,000. And that was a body that could do a very great deal for the advance and progress of the country. To-day, said Miss Spencer, they wore more convinced than ever of the good that they could do —even more convinced than they had been at the successful and enthusiastic conference of 18 months ago.

They had always their motto, “For home and country,” she remarked. What was for the good of the home was inevitably for the good of the country.

Both in its name and manner of working their great organisation was linked very closely with other similar organisations in the Empire, as well as with those who were working for the same ends in foreign countries. That was another very great link these days when the world was looking for unity, and when people knew more than ever before that they must live by the golden rule. At present, indeed, it was a matter of actual self-preservation for people to do unto others as they would that others should do unto them.

To-day there were some 20,000 people all over New Zealand who were looking to those at the conference for wise decisions that would lead to wise, developments within tho organisation and outside it. Those at the conference should realise the seriousness with which they should approach their task and should look to be guided in the best way and to approach every subject from the wisest and widest standpoint. They should see tho great possibilities before the movement; and from that point of view should not be afraid to place power in tho hands of those they could trust to carry on the work of the organisation. His Excellency, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, sent the folowing message, which was read by Miss Spencer and received with applause:—

“The Women’s Institute movement is aC. uitted to have been the one outstanding social product of the Great War which had in it the seeds of permanent utility. It was recognised as meeting a long-felt want among women of all classes in the British Empire. Just as war conditions inspired its creation

us a now women s organisation in Great Birtaiu and supplied its justification, so now, under somewhat similar conditions of national emergency, special opportunities are presented for demonstrating its usefulness in times of peace. Never was there more need to emphasise the virtues of self-help, resourcefulness and the avoidance of waste, which it is the special function of your great and growing movement to inculcate in the homes of the people. You have the best wishes for the success of your confidence. I have no doubt that you will arrive nt some useful decision regarding the better organisation of your various women’s institutes in this Dominion, based upon duo consideration of their special requirements and local conditions.” WOMEN AND THE CHURCH A resolution urging tho admission of women to the ministry on equal terms with men was carried at a conference in London recently of the British Commonwealth League. “When will the, leaders of the Church realise that, they have lost, hold of n large proportion of the inelligent women in the Church today?” said Mrs Jameson Williams, of Australia. “1 have known women,” she said, “who have left the Church because they began to criticise the preaching and wcr<‘ ostracised.” Numerically the women had power to get; their way, but they had no loyalty Io each other. She recalled a church meeting made np of three quarters of, women which met to elect a committee. Yet they elected all the men present and not a womam.