NEED FOR BIGGER COUNTRY POPULATION

Chronicle (Levin), 19 March 1946, Page 7

NEED FOR BIGGER COUNTRY POPULATION

SAYS FOUNDER OF W.I.'S. New Zealand's most urgent necd today, is to have a greatiy increased population* in .the conntry districts, concerned directiy or mdirectly with primary production, said iviiss A. E. jerome Spencer, O.B.E., of Rissington, • addressing members , of the Woodville Women's Institute on the occasion of the 21st toirthday of the institute on Saturday iast. To this end, the speakcr continued, the institutes had .played tiieir part in furthering the interests of country dwellcrs, and generally endeavouring to get improved conditions in rural areas. Jjooking back over the past 25 years, as the founder of the Women's Institutes, Miss Spencer reinarkel tliat conditions had greatiy changed with more cars, telephones and tne radio ail mitigatmg tlie former hard conditions of country life. However, the need for tne mstitutes was by no means iess because these ditticulties had been overcome and she stressed the fact that the silver jubilee marked a very important miiestone in their progress. There was a chalicnge to the women trained in its objects and ideals to further its interests to suit the times. The monthly meetings were as important as cver for the neighbouriy contacts and there would be increasing opportunities for the development of drama, music, literature and other cultural interests as well as horticulture craft work and the home-making arts. There wr.s a greater need than ever before for the women to be we.i informcd on world aft'airs and trainerl to form balanccd judgments on all the problems facing tliem to-day to assure happy and progressive home life in the country. An enligitened country population, it was claimed, -"as the best asset any nation could liave.