The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 21st, 1939. EXHIBITIONS OF HANDCRAFT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 42, 28 July 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 21st, 1939. EXHIBITIONS OF HANDCRAFT

THE success of the recent Winter Show, as revealed by the publication of the financial statement last Friday, serves to indicate the tremendous grip the fixture has upon the general public, who in spite of the worst weather conditions yet experienced by the Association, return a gate figure which was close on the heels of la.st year's record event. We have a mind to emphasise the Home Industrial and Handcraft sections, which this year created such widespread interest, and to particularly commend the District Courts. The amazing feature of each court was the fact that every article was home-made—often out of odds and ends which in the ordinary course of events would be .discarded or destroyed. The variety of goods was equally astonishing, while their neat construction, often from makeshift household articles such as clothes pegs, cotton reels and match boxes, etc., was a source of constant surprise and pleasure to those interested enough to make a close inspection. Apart from ordinary knick-knacks, however, the courts showed household articles and furnishings of every day use of sound, permanent construction. Who could' wish for anything better than the designed wool mats —every bit as good as the saleable article — the seagrass stools and chairs, the upholstered armchairs and the tapestry work. Seeing all these and countless others serves to illustrate the valuable work which is being done by the Women's Institute and the W-DFU. organisations. Outsiders are apt to v judge their activities by the paper reports which cover their meetings from time to time, and look upon them merely as a sort of social club where members find pleasure in meeting friends and doing what good they can in the cause of common charity etc. However, the great and valuable work which is being done was never more forcibly brought before the public thanj it was at the show. From the court display it tsi very obvious that both these organisations encourage the arts and crafts of genuine home-making and' provide their members with hobbies which have doubtless served to cheer many a lonely hour. Another praiseworthy feature is that practically every article made (according to the show exhibits) is • fashioned from waste material, often with very beautuful result. This makes it possible for members even in the most straightened circumstances to compete in the periodical competitions which are held. In fact the cost is often purposely cut down in order to encourage thrift. The result is to be seen in serviceable hearth rugs made entirely from sugar bags, quaint dolls and figures created from old felt hats, doormats fashioned in ours from old stockings, and dozens of other articles all made from similar cast-offs. Next year it is hoped to make the court section even larger, thereby providing more space for each competing body and enabling still more displays to be made by organisations which this year were not represented.