EASTERN BAY FEDERATION OF INSTITUTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 14, 1 November 1950, Page 5

EASTERN BAY FEDERATION OF INSTITUTES

The bi-annual Council meeting of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Federation of Women’s Institutes was held at Taneatua, with Mrs McCallion presiding over a good attendance of Institutes. The treasurer reported that finances are sound, and that the Federation this year sent £IOO toward Headquarters building fund, this being made possible by special activities, such as garden parties and social evenings being run by the Institute. It was reported that dressmaking classes are now being held in the more eastern districts of the Federation and are proving as popular and useful there, as they did in the area where they were held earlier in the year. A successful drama festival was held at Waimana in June, and it is hoped that the Eisteddfod to be held there on November 1 will be as successful.

An urgency recommendation, forwarded by Taneatua W.I. that a short prayer be read before each W.I. meeting, was well received, and' all Institutes are asked to co-operate in this effort to help toward a world peace. A copy of the prayer is to be forwarded to headquarters asking them to recommend it to other Institutes throughout the Dominion.

Voluntary organisers report that all institutes in the Federation continue to function well. Many are this year celebrating their 21st birthdays. Two new institutes have been formed—one at Minginui and one at Lake Rotoma. Calendars A letter was received from Kowhai W.I. suggesting that, in future, this Federation have calendars or cards printed each year for sale among its members, in place of the ones now being bought each year from another Federation. All institutes are asked to discuss this suggesion and advise their delegates to the annual Council meeting in April of their decisions.

Another suggestion brought forward was for a Federation banner. Each W.I. is asked to have a competition for this and to send their winning entry to the competition to be held at the annual Council meeting.

Mrs McCallion gave a report on the Dominion conference held in Christchurch in July and at which she was the Federation’s delegate. She reminded that next month, November, is International month when each member is asked to give Id for friendship. The afternoon opened with the recording made at the Dominion conference of the institute song “Comrades and Friends.”

The W.I. six-monthly reports were then heard.

The guest speaker for the afternoon was Mrs Woolfield, of Waimana, who has recently returned from a holiday to England and the Continent. Mrs Woolfield took her listeners on a “verbal trip” to the Old Country. Members of the Taneatua W.I. entertained with a play—grandmothers are so simple. The enjoyable and interesting day was brought to a close with the singing of the National Anthem. Competition winners were:— Xmas gift (materials to cost not more than 2/6), Mrs Hewitt (Waimana) 1, Mrs Peck (Otakiri) 2; shortbread, Mrs Downes (Taneatua) 1, Mrs Wilson (Edgecumbe) 2; best floral decoration in low container, Mrs McGougan (Taneatua) 1, Mrs Fennell (Whakatane) 2.