County Life Interests.

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19992, 16 September 1936, Page 3

County Life Interests.

A page devoted to the Interest* of ttie Country Women of the Waikato, and In particular to advancing and recording the activities of those two great national organisations, the Women’s Institute* and the

Women’s Division of the Farmer*’ Union.

A CANADIAN CONFERENCE The following very interesting account of a visit to a distriot convention of the Women’s Institute in Canada, following the World’s Convention, was written by Miss Franks, an Irish delegate: Twenty miles across the prairie in the early morning, from Calgary, past the big dam which supplies the city, and past the big oil refining works to open country of rolling hills, backed by the long range of the Rocky Mountains, faintly blue, showing a snowy peak, where the sunlight strikes first, small homesteads are dotted about surrounded by their little plantations of trees and then by the wide stretches of wheat lands. Thirty-six in a bus, members of the Calgary W.I. going to attend the District Convention, to give in reports of institutes and suggestions for future programmes. We go down a steep, winding road to a little village, surrounded by bare hills, and stop at a hall, a big building, and are greeted by a crowd of women who have already arrived from another district. Inside it is cool, coming out of the strong sunlight, as the Chairman and Convenor greet us. Great bowls of purple and yellow flowers are arranged on the platform behind the speakers’ table. The meeting begins with the reports from different institutes in the district—then an interval and a young member appears on the platform and we listen to her Violin solo. Then a special speaker is announced from the Department of Agriculture who, with enthusiasm, attacks the subject of Food and Nutrition, showing most clearly how much ill-health comes from wrong diet, and urging us to make a study of this subject at our meetings during the year. Then we adjourn for lunch to a cool semi-basement room under the hall, where long tables are spread with cold meat and salads followed by “pie,” and everything simply hums. Community singing starts t'he afternoon session, and the Provincial President, who has Strived and is requested to lead, which she does with both vocal and physical energy, in the song: “We are Yumping, Yumping Back to Albertee.” (At the word “ Yump’ everyone springs from their chair and yumps up and down!) The President gave them an excellent address on her “ Experiences at the Washington-Conference,” telling of contacts made, of the wonderful meetings, and preparations made for the stream of delegates and visitors pouring into the city that week, and praised the untiring ability of the A.C.W.W. Committee, who were not only able to handle the situation, but also give to any individual requiring their Attention their kindly and cordial attention. The guest of tile’ meeting, Miss Franks from Dublin, was given a warm reception and compared the work of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association with that of the Alberta Institutes. When she had finished the members all sang “ It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” Tea followed, more reports, a recitation and two musical items, concluded by a president-al address by the Convenor, Mrs A. W. Thompson. Back in the evening, our.bus well packed, singing choruses, until the City of Foothills is reached, gleaming white in the evening sunlight.