HITHER AND THITHER WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 256, 31 October 1935, Page 2

HITHER AND THITHER

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Successful Shop Day. The W.D.F.L’. rooms presented an animated scene, yesterday when the members held a successful “shop day. 5 -’ There was a tine display of produce, cakes, sweets, flowers, etc. and those in charge of the stalls were kept busy throughout the day supplying the wants of purchasers. The stall holders were: Produce, Alesdames Scott, Lil burn, Blyth and Aliss Polson; cakes, Mesdanies MdDougall, Anderson, aim Miss Sampson; sweets, Alesdames Soundy and Fantham; flowers, Miss Morgan; jumble, Mrs. Melville; afternoon tea. Alesdames Wickham, slater and Butcher; arts and crafts, Aliss K. Eraser and Mrs. Pollock; Mrs. McPhail (president) and Aliss Matthews (lion, secretary) acted as hostesses. Step-ladder Hint. Step-ladders are in use a great deal during spring cleaning, and accidents sometimes occur through the, ladder slipping unexpectedly. It is a good plain to use up amy old scraps of rubmor which may have been saved from time to time to cover the feet of the ladder and thus eliminate all fear of accidents caused by slipping. At the same time. a. firm grip on the steps themselves can be assured by fixing a rubber tread on each step. The rubber can be tacked on with small nails. Old hot-water bottles cut up are splen did for this purpose, or pieces of old rubber a [irons. School for the Princesses. It is reported that the Duke and Duchess of A’ork are departing from the. usual procedure of educating their daughters at home, and are thinking of sending them to a famous Scottish school when they reach the required age. Their names have been put on the visiting waiting list. This is in keeping with the modern ideas of the Duchess, whosfe great desire is to bring her ehildri-n up simply and to bring them in touch at an early age with the world in which they are to live and work. The /Duke, whose advanced ideas on education are well known, is responsible for one of the most successful experiments of recent years, that of the annual boys’ camp where Eton and Eealing. Harrow and Ifoxton bovsiueet for holidays together. Tribute to Pavlova. Londoners lay special claim to the memory of Anna Pavlova, wnose inimitable artistry was perhaps more greatly appreciated here than in any of the other metropolitan cities of Europe, not even excepting her oat.'ivm Russian capitals, states a London writer. It is fitting, thertd'ore, that a memorial to the. graceful and gracious little "dying swan” should be erected somewhere nut too far away from the scenes of her greatest triumphs. A committee entrusted with this duty has already submitted a model of such a memorial to the Eine Arts Commission, which has given it approval. Funds for the erection of the memorial on a site in Regent’s I'ark are to be raised by means ol' a, Pavlova film which is now in the course ol being “shot ’ at Elstree. This pi- :ui'e will incorporate a. number of films of the ballerina tianring which were actually taken i .luring one of her visits to Hollywood. New Hair Style. “ Bvron Bobs’’ is the name of the latest London hair style, according to news received by the air mail. Il is a modified version of the “Eton crop.” h might almost, bo describe-’ the “Byronic Bob" this neat newold style of coiffure, for it features a long and luxuriant lock at the front, which is waved to fall negligently across the brow at the side and over tire crown m the manner' whieh the Victorian girl f ound i rresistibip. in the poet Byron. The hair is still shorn close at. the back of the head and the nap.' of the neck, bin it. is no longer "smart” to ea:rv the shorn effect to the sides of the head. The redeeming waw lock prevents that hard appearance which the “Eton crop’’ proper gave to even the prettiest face. In

’a'-t, the whole style is more girlish, ’or the woman with the slender neck ind the well informed head the new •Eton crop” is admirable. It is adaptible to almost every hat- style, especi-tll-v the trim little sports felts and he übiquitous beret. But, as a West ind h:iirdre<ser said, the full faced jirl should not adopt it. Women Inventors. Papers by air mail dated Oclober I, wing news of the eleventh internaional exhibition of in volitions, which ipened in London recently at the Cenral Hall, West minster, show.-' that here is no end to the creative genius, >f man -or woman. Women, indeed, ia\c taken a large part in this collecioii of 2-"0 new patents and models. Host of them have turned to household hings- the table-bed cabinet; the lousehold wash-up drainer tray; the levice lor drying or airing garment vhich also acts as a heat diffuser; the louble-bladed cutting knife which cuts wo slices of bread or cake at once. Jest of all, perhaps, better even than he ‘ ‘ collaj'sible travelling trunk pioector,” or the new “haircutring aplaratus.'is, as winter approaches, the ‘improved toasting fork,’’ which enildos you to toast two pieces of bread >r both sections of a muffin at once. )lany of the inventions aim at in■reasing the amenities of every-day it'e There are: L'ollapsible tables vhich include attachments for sliding efreshment trays, enabling card mities to continue their play without! nterruptiou for tel'relhments; a t\inlow-\ ent ilator which nut merely i'ii-' «ures fresh air. without draughts, but ! ‘prevents the entrance of unauthor- j sed persons a “hose support” vhich ‘ ‘ stays upon thin legs.” A lental surgeon has patented a “selfDilating lifebelt,and an unemployed nine-worker shows apparatus to iin•rove wireless tuning inductances. (Continued on Page 12)

WANGANUI FEDERATION ' HALF-YEARLY COUNCIL MEETING The half-yearly council meeting of the Wanganui District Federation of Women’s Institutes was held at Tainape yesterday, when over 200 delegates and visitors were present from all parts of the district, representing 20 institutes. Miss J. Brine, ’Wanganui Federation president, was in the chair and associated with her ou the platform were Mrs. Paterson (Pahialua; Dominion president, Mrs. Ginnane (Mangaweka) federation secretary, Mrs. Delatour (Mayoress), Mrs. 8. G. Millen (Westmere) voluntary organiser, and other committee members including Mesdames Dellow (Utiku), Dale (lurakina), Farley (Makirikiri), and Speedy. After the institute song and. aspira-

ti.uns the visitors were welcomed by , Mrs. Dellow, president of the L’tiku Institute, bhe expressed pleasure that ' the gathering was held in Taihape. It i was the first time that the half yearly council meeting had been held iu Tui- 1 hape , A hearty welcome was extended to . the visitors by the Mayor of Taihape (Mr. L. B. H. Delatour) who was an- ’ } troduced by the pre&iuent, Airs. Brine. 1 He made retetence to the line words f - and the excellent thoughts expressed 1 . in the "aspirations” and “ode.” lie « • spoke of the work accomplished by the 1 - institutes in the various communities 1 > and paid special reference to the ! j Ltiku Institute, which had been re 1 : sponsible fur arranging the council * - meeting tu be held, in Taihape. He :■ thought the ladies were going to take ( their place in the world and do equally 1 i as well as the mule fraternity. He * ’ sincerely w’wdied them every success, 1 a happy a pleasant conference, ami ( ' hoped that their meeting would be < 1 helpful. He solicited the help of the ( institutes for a rest room fur Taihape, • which was very much needed. The ’ Mayor concluded by saying that institutes in New Zealand now numbered i 863 with. 32,000 members —a splendid t record. < 1 Mrs. Brine returned thanks to the i Mayor for his hearty welcome. The I president expressed pleasure in the r large attendance and welcomed, all, i particularly those from the newer - institutes. She read apologies from Mrs. O’Reilly (Westmere), Airs. Mor- ( rison (Maxwell), and Mrs. Tomlinson i ■ (Upper Waitotara), and later iu the : afternoon a telegram from Westmere conveying greetings. Airs. Brine said, she was sorry that seveal delegates could nut attend owing to the inclement weather and some of the loads being blocked. The committee members were then introduced. The minutes of the previous meeting f were read by the secretary, Airs. 1 Ginnane. c-f Aiangaweka, who also sub- 1 mitted die half-yearly report. s Airs. Brine spoke oa the report t which was adopted. On the motion u-f the president, the financial statement as read by Airs. I Farley, was adopted. c It was announced that calendars, < cookery books and badges were on g sale. i Competition for Reports. n A slight change as regards the re- 1 ports of activities of institutes had occii previously made and it was decided that all reports for this meeting [ be iu prose, also that all representatives as well as delegates attending 1 should vote. Two minute reports oi activities were read by delegates from * Aramuho, Alangu'veka. Hunterville, \ Utiku, Kangiwaua, Alataria, Taranga rere »silverUupe, Ixartui, Forewa, Kai- 1 toke. Alakirikiri, Alangapurua, Ohi- 1 ngaiti, Ohakunc, Okoia, Foukiore, 11 Kaetihi, Furdeli. All but one of the delegates, namely Kohi, presented a s report. Ou a vote being taken Okoia A and Utiku reports were adjudged the best, with Hunterville secund with only one point behind. Ou arrival the visitors were enter- t rained at morning tea by the hostes- r .->es —members of the Utiku, Mataroa, a Rangiwaea and Tauaugarere Institutes, s who were responsible for the excel- e lent afternoon tva, the arrangements made tor luncheon, also the lovely I iloral decorations in the hall, which i consisted of Iceland poppies and Y • autumn-tinted foliage, they being c ilanked with large brass bowls tilled j. with tlowers, and tree blossoms. On j. the tables, covered with tire institute j. banners, were bowls of beautiful tulips. During the gathering elocutionary items were given by Airs. iSinith, of y the Utiku In.-litute, and songs by Airs. y Kirkby gave much pleasure tu the gathering. Resuming after the luncheon adjourn- p meat the meeting commenced with the , ■‘ode to friendship.’ ’ The report trophy was presented and Airs. Brine thanked all who were helping with the health campaign. She urged all to keep on the potato j competitions, and expressed thanks to mo secretary lor all the help she had rendered. 1 hanks were also extended to the I’ress. . Bouquets were presented to the i Dominion president, Mrs. PaVerson, federation president, Airs. Brine, the Mayoress, and members of the commit- L tee on th-e platform. Dominion President’s Address r Airs IL Patersoq (Dominion presr- n dent) was the speaker for the after- r noun. On rising to address the gather- \ ing she was greeted with applause. »She p said it was the greatest pussrole pleas- s ure to be with them and praised the t work an I crafts displayed in the hail, b In speaking of the work of the institutes she said that sometimes people asked what is the aim of the movement. it is sometimes difficult to an- t j swer that question for the institutes s j do so much. IShe looked upon the or- j ganisation as an inheritance. In giv- [j ing an account of an article -he had <>• iccetly read in an English paper refer- h ring to ancient weaving, the speaker a remarked that it reminded her of an- o other beautiful picture of what Wo- ti men’s Institutes mean to the women a who belong to the movement. She V tohl of the process used in ancient A times for the weaving of tapestry, the N tedious work attached to it and the t< patience required- The method of the n workers was described and the use of cartoons and warps. There are as 01 many as 40 to 50 warps in a tapestry $ which, took years to make. The best P

one is in Great Britain and was made iu Scotland. It was 51| feet by 35 feet —a very large picture. The warp is to the weaver what a canvas is to a painter. The picture ho is setting out to copy is behind him and at the side, slightly to the front, is a mirror through which the weaver looks from time tu time to see how the work is progressing. Quite a number of people worked together on the one piece of tapestry. The perfect harmony and the purpose of these weavers to complete a beautiful picture was wonderful and it would be difficult to realise that not one artist but many different people had had a hand in the work, so full of artistic blending of colours and so complete was the tapestry. Reading the article, the speaker said, the work reminded her of what the institutes were doing and the work they accomplished. bho spoke of the woman to whom had come a great vision. That woman was Airs Hoodless, whose idea was that the faun women were important. It was through this great idea that country women were abie to meet together and so gradually improve ’conditions in their lives. She made reference to the manner in which the League of Nations came into being, and said the foundation of the Women’s Institutes arose in much the same way. Just as the warp of ancient tapestry was difficult to work, so was the foundation of a movement. She likened the organisation to artists busy at their canvases- Some are doing the solid work, some are '-providing the bright spots, while another may put in the golden thread, or a silver thread When once the thread was put into the tapestry it could not be withdrawn —so with their work. Another thought was that of the mirror. She likened it to the council meetings of the instv tutes. Just as the artist looked into the mirror, so members by meeting together could see where a bright thread put here or another one placed, there might, be an improvement for the betterment. of the movement. Those in the meeting were Going their part, others would follow. The movement would never die, but would go on from one generation to another. All should work co-operatively ‘for the good of the federation and the Dominion Federation. There was a great ideal of love and service. They were not doing it for themselves alone but for ■ one another. The Alayoress (Mrs Delatour) in a brief speech, spoke of the work of the Women’s Institute, saying it was a wonderful organisation for shy people and a marvellous uplift to the women of the country. She thanked the gathering for the lovely bouquet. In mentioning the proposed new rest room for Taihape, Mrs Delatour said that at a meeting held the previous evening it was proposed that, the presidents of the Women’s Institutes in tbo Taihape district be asked to go nn the committee. Remits A remit submitted by the Wanganui Federation Executive Committee that Women-’s Institutes of the Wanganui Federation each contribute a native tree, or its equivalent, to the Avenue of Remembrance of Trees in the main highway (Wellington to Auckland) to be grouped together it possible. The situation suggested for the belt of trees was at a point, near MaxwellThis was carried- “ That the Wanganui I. . Board be asked to heat schools in cold districts other than by open fires,” was a remit brought forward by the Aiangaweka. Institutes. The delegare speaking on the matter said that the fires were not lit until the children arrived at school and the buildings were intensely cold. The remit was lost. From Hunterville: “That New Zealand butter be sold to New Zealand people at export prices—less shipping and other charges. ’’ Carried unanimously. From Fordell: “That it be an official recommendation to all institutes that they instruct their delegates to vote fore: (a) Not more than one member from any institute for the Federation Executive; (b) not more than one member from any federation for the Dominion Executive.” This remit was spoken to by Airs S. G. Alillcn. (a) was lost; (o) was carried. Handicraft Display A display of handcrafts included thrift articles of. all kinds, featuring rugs made from old stockings, odds and ends of woollen material, and hair skins; bags from old rubber tyres, sugar bag 'cushions, children’s frocks from flour Dags and beautifully embroidered. Pictures, painted sets of tins for the kitchen, raffiia and cane work, wool rugs, woolly toys, hand carved tables, stools and variety of knitting, pewter, poker and marquerterie work. Hollywood cushions, knitted baby sets (protected by cellophane) were also on exhibit- There were needlework articles of all kinds, a. particularly fine display being shown on the arts and crafts stall- Much admire were some, fine crocheted artivies, a set of exquisitely embroidered novelty linen serviette rings., dressing table sets, also a collection of Alaori work shown by Ai rs \\ R. 1 ohe. of Turangarere Institute, showing flax fibre, flax dyed from native shrubs and swamp mud. also a pui-pui made with prepared flax. Sahiplps of the demonstrator s work were exhibited and provided interest for the visitors. This display showed the variety of articles that, can be made and the number of instructive demonstrations that are available to institutes. A unique- exhibition was a botanical eollectton shown by Aliss Dulcie Bartel', a junior member of the Turangarere Institute, consisting of 100 specimens of native trees, all beautifully mounted. This wonderful collection won a prize when exhibited in Wellington. Of special interest was a skirt, hand-woven, dyed and spun into tweed, also a pram cover, boih being beautifully woven. Half-yearly Report. The half-yearly report of the federation was as follows: —"During the past six months—the commencement of our ihird year as a federation —the executive has met four times and the emergency committee once. Aluch business has been dealt with. Airs. Brine was appointed to represent this federation on the St. John Ambulance Association, Airs. Farley to the Wanganui A. and P. Association, Airs. Millen to the Wanganui branch of the League of Nations and the Alobile Dental Clinic. No institutes have been formed. Kaitoke was reinstated in June, and we now comprise 28 institutes. “The V.O. (Airs. Millen) has paid official visits to Poukiore, Ohingaiti, Silverhope, and Ohakune, and the president and other members of. the

executive have attended meetings at Maxwell, Westmere, Porewa, Aramuho. Moston, Ohingaiti, L’tiku, Makirikiri, Turangaarere, Okoia and Turakina, and a combined meeting of Kaetihi, Karioi and Ohakune, at Ohakuae. “A very successful exhibition was held at Wanganui in June, of handcrafts, pantry courts, etc. A notable feature w:.vS an exhibit, suggested by Mrs. Lambert, of Westmere W.1., and carried out by members of institutes adjacent io Wanganui, consisting 01. dolls made of papier maclie and dressed in the national costumes of the countries iu which, women’s institutes are established, and attached by ribbons to their corresponding countries on a large papier maclie globe of Hie world, I'lus was later sent Io the Dominion Conference Exhibition at Auckland, and has since been loaned to other institutes. "Tins federation sent 2<i delegalc> to the Dominion Conicrence, iLcludiug the president and V. 0., ami was also represented by members from practically all institute.'.. A welcome visitor in August was Aliss Jerome Spencer, founder of the W.i. movement in Aew Zealand. She conducted schools or ■•.onferences for officers at W anganui and Taihape and a school for \ .0. s at Wanganui. The Best Cottage fund was, after the closing of the ixesL Cottage at Castlecliff, renamed the provi •lent fund, and is available for institutes wishing to help a needy case. This federation lias affiliated with the British Drama League and institutes may now use the jIID.L. play library •hi payment of a small fee. A Britisu Drama League Festival was held in Wanganui in August, seven institute teams entering. e congratulate Westmere W.L on being placed second. Other institute teams were highly commended. Members are becoming more and mure ‘drama-minded,’ and lew institutes are without a drama circle. Fifteen institutes entered for the potato competition this year, compared with thirteen last year. The weights returned are very much, lower, the past season being a poor one generally for potatoes. The winner of the trophy this year is Maxwell Institute, with an average weight per member of 191 b. lloz, Rangiwaea is second with 101 b. 30z., and Westmere third with 91b. 10 oz. Last year Westmere was the winner with an average weight of 211 b. 6{oz. “A fund has recently been inaugurated to assist small or wayh;u’k institutes with travelling expenses of lecturer and demonstrators, and further particulars can be obtained from the secretary. “Community work reported includes boxes of books for the federation, and books and. comforts from, various in-

stitutes to the Kurioi Forestry Camp pillow cases to the Kaitoke Afforesta lion Camp, donations of money am goods to the Porirua Mental Hospita Christmas ajipeal, the Mayor’s Reliei Fund, the Sunshine Club. Health Stain} Campaign, sales of basketware on be half of the Blind Institute, and sale? of sweets at the recent concerts givei by the Blind Institute at Wanganui.’

POSITION IN ZANZIBAR

GIRL SAILS TO ROMANCE. Mi.'.s Helen Wilson, a 22-'. eai-old brunette, kissed her mother good-bye at Tilbury dock> and then set out on a lone 1000-milc journey io the romantic British Protectorate of Zanzibar. She had thrown up a position in a city office to take up a posi in the .'ecretariat at Zanzibar—one of the first of such appointments for v. omen to be made by the Colonial Ofm-e. Miss Wilson had been given special work in the Colonial Office, learning all about the work she will have to do. “1 shall assist the secretary to the High ■Commissioner.” she said to a Daily Express representative. ‘•Lots ot the girls in my office envied me. ?<o wonder, for Zanzibar is the strangest, richest island of its size in the world “I feel that getting this job is like having a passport from the twentieth century to the Arabian Night enter tainments. The Hui tan often give: dances, and lot - ’ oss o\er t( his palace from the East African mainland. “I was told that I was the first girl ever to go out to Zanzibar as a Government serxant. It is likely that I shall be there for two years, but 1 am not sure yet whether I want tc give up prospects of a marriage and home for a regular job in the Government servieeJJ