WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 9

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

RUAPEHU FEDERATION HALF-YEARLY COUNCIL MEEITNG At the half-yearly council meeting of the Ruapehu Federation of Women’s Institutes, held yesterday in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Mangaweka, Mrs Dellow (president) welcomed delegates from ten institutes, also visitors from the Wanganui Federation, including the president, Miss Young, and Mesdames Aidworth and Gordon. Special greetings were extended to Mrs W. Deans (Dominion president), Miss Young, the Maori delegates and all visitors. Associated with Mrs Dellow on the platform were Mesdames Transom (secretary), Pairman, Sandford, Speedy, Sinnet, Bartlett, Hardie, Murdock, Millen (voluntary organiser). Bouquets were presented to Mrs Deans, Miss Young, Mrs Dellow and to all committee members and others on the platform. Bowls of lilac and golden kowhai flanked the platform ana decorated the table. The meeting opened with the sining of "Comrades and Friends” and the reciting of the Aspirations.

On behalf of the Mangaweka Institute, Mrs Ginnane welcomed ah and said how pleased they were to have the Dominion president with them. Mrs Pairman also spoke words of welcome to the delegates and the Dominion president.

Miss Young conveyed greetings from the Wanganui Federation and wished the Ruapehu Federation a happy and success afternoon. Greetings were conveyed by Mrs Guthrie on behalf of North Wellington, and were also received from Raciihi. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The second halfyearly report submitted by the secretary, Mrs Transom, showed the great interest that was taken in institute affairs. Mrs Dellow tlw.nked the institutes for making it possible for Mrs Millen and herself to attend the round table w conference. Affairs dealing with home and country were spoken of by the president. Sne thanked all for their loyal support. One thing Mrs Dellow regretted was the resignation of Mrs Millen, voluntary organiser, to whom she paid a wonderful tribute. She said Mrs Millen had been a mother to them all and each institute, and members were greatly appreciative of what Mrs Millen had done.

Mrs Millen, in reply, thanked Mrs Dellow for her tribute. She was sorry that she could not possibly carry on. In saying farewell she wished to repeat again that she wanted them to realise the great organisation to which they belonged, and asked them to do their utmost for the movement. She thanked all for their kindness and wonderful co-operation, also spoke words of encouragement to the various institutes in me Ruapehu Federation, and concluded by wishing them the best life can give them. The report and financial statement were adopted. The two-minute reports of the last six months’ activities were then read by the delegates from the following institutes: Hihitahi, Mangaweka, Mataioa, Ohakune, Ohingaiti, Raetihi, Rangiwahia, Turangaarere, Utiku. These were very informative and interesting and were judged by Mrs Deans, assisted by Miss Young. Later in the afternoon the trophy was presented to the winning institute by Mrs Deans, who awarded the honour to Rangiwaea, with Turangaarere second and Raetihi third. The trophy (donated by Mrs Millen) for the potato competition, was won by Turangaarere, with 2691b5. (26 members, average 10 9-261b5.), and Rangiwaea seconu, with 2171b5. The drama trophy was won by Rangiwaea, with Mangaweka second.

A remit ‘‘That the voting delegates to the council meeting be given a number when reading their reports, the name of the institute not to appear.” After a show of hands the remit was lost.

It was announced that Dr. Doris Gordon could not visit thedistrict at the date named, and it was decided to try and make arrangements for a date some time in the early future.

Mrs Deans, the speaker for the afternoon, was introduced by Mrs Dellow. She said she was very pleased to be able to meet them all. She thanked the president for the warm welcome and the arrangements made for her, and for the lovely bouquet she had received. On behalf of the Dominion executive, Mrs Deans paid a warm tribute to Mrs Millen, whom, she said, the institutes will greattiy miss.

The speaker told her audience something of the work being done among the Maoris in North Auckland, and of the institutes formed there. There had been so little money available that these institutes could not be visited. They had grown considerably during the last year or two. The north was an immense tract of country, making it difficult to visit the institutes in outlying districts, so it had been found easier to break these up into smaller federations, and when each get going they will run smoothly. Some of the institutes are helped by the teachers of the native schools, some by farmers* wives by the district nurses. Some nurses hau three or four institutes to look after, and one nurse had seven. This made the work difficult. The Government realised the good work resulting and gave a grant of £350 for an organiser. Mrs Horn had been appointed and she had a big job up there, said Mrs Deans. The travelling was both hard and expensive. The grant did not nearly cover the cost of travel, and a second-hand car had been bought. Mrs Horn carried samples of woik and a projector for the showing of films. This was a great draw up north. At present they had only three or four good pictures and hoped for others later. The projector was worked from a battery at the back of the car.

Mrs Deans gave an outline of the work being done in the institute ollice at Wellington during Mrs Horn’s absence up north. It will be quite two years before things up north will run smoothly, as there is much organising to be done, said the speaker. The work among the Maoris should be extended and organisers appointed. Mrs Deans also told her hearers of the work done at the institutes in connection with the railway camps in both the North and South Islands, also of the life of the women living at the camps. She congratulated the federation on the satisfactory state of the fin-

ancial statement. The administrative part of the work was spoken of. If each institute knew definitely what they had to give, it made things much easier. Mrs Deans praised the federation for their part in the endownment fund. The federation should have enough money in the bank to keep them going the following year. The community effort will get them what they want. She was glad to hear they were taking Home and country so well. Details of expenses and running of same were given by the speaker, who urged that as many as possible should support their publication. Mrs Deans said she had been greatly interested in the two-minute reports. In regard to the programme of activities of institutes, the speaker gave some excellent and helpful advice on making the programmes varied and interesting. She drew to their attention the "Golden Thread” series and the W.E.A. lectures. Many programmes that were interesting could be planned, but good organisation was necessary to carry them out well. One idea she would like to give them was in regard to getting cheaper oranges for the new diet. She advised the institutes to buy straight from ihe markets. Many helpful suggestions were given for the quick running of the business part of the meetings.

On behalf of the Ruapehu Federation Mrs Dellow thanked Mrs Deans for her address on the Maori Institute affairs up north and the difficulties they were experiencing, also for the institute matters she had touched on. votes of thanks t othe hostess, institutes and those who had charge of arrangements, and for the flowers and bouquets were given by Mesdames Speedy and Murdoch.

Items given during the afternoon, which enlivened the proceedings, were a recitation "Castles in the Air,” by Mrs Brewer, and recitations and songs in character by Mrs McKnight, whose ability in the art of character dress and make-up for the recitation "Oh, Her!” which was well given, caused much laughter. She had to respond with two encores. The Mangaweka Institute members had made excellent arrangements for serving a sit-down lunch, and this was partaken of early so that the meeting could commence at 12 noon and continue right through the afternoon without a break. The programme was well carried through to time to enable delegates to leave immediately folowing afternoon tea. A small collection of thrift articles were on display in the hall. Half-yearly Report. "In presenting the second halfyearly report of the Ruapehu Federation of Women’s Institutes your committee feels that work of the last six months has been very satisfactory, and the interest in the work of the movement steadily increasing,” read the half-yearly report. "Your committee had met three times and a good deal of business has been dealt with. We were very sorry indeed to lose the services of our capable secretary, Mrs Gill, on her leaving the district, and also of Mrs Carmine, who resigned on account of ill-health. In June two executive members, Mrs Dellow (president) and Mrs Millen (V. 0. were delegates to the round table conference in Wellington, where much valuable help and inspiration were received. Lectures were heard on national questions and contacts made with members from other parts of the Dominion, which proved helpful. Visits have been piad by our president to the majority of institutes in the federation, thereby making personal contacts with individual members; other committee members have also visited various institutes.

"Our voluntary organiser, Mrs Millen, has visited and addressed a number of institutes and has also conducted officers’ schools in Taihape and at Ohakune, giving much valuable assistance in the conduct of institute affairs. We were sorry indeed to lose our farthest away institute, Mangaparua, which had to be closed through lack of membership. A drama festival was held in Taihape in July, and was quite a success, not only from a financial point of view, but from the interest created among our members and those outside our movement, and also from the educational value of such functions. The shilling per member for the No. 2 endowment fund, the remit that was carried at our annual meeting in April is being well supported by the institutes, and we expect to have the whole amount before the end of the year. We would bring to your notice our official paper "Home and Country,” and ask foi your whole-hearted support. It really is a wonderful magazine for the stitutes are doing. We regret very money and contains all that the inmuch that Mrs Millen, our V. 0., is leaving us on account of private affairs. We, as a federation, owe much to Mrs Millen for her help and guidance during the past 18 months, since the formation of our federation.

"We would thank you all for your loyal support and co-operation during the last six months. We would also like to thank the Press, particularly the Taihape Times and the Wanganui "Chronicle” for their interest and courtesy, and also the many friends outside our movement who have helped us in various ways. In conclusion we would ask for your continued support, as we feel that it is only by co-operation that women can become a real force in the world.”