WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1946, Page 2

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

ANNUAL MEETING, OF SOUTHWELLINGTON FEDERATION There was an excellent attendance at the annual meeting of the Southern Wellington Federation of Women's Institutes, held recently at Paraparaumu. Mrs. Hornsby, president of the hostess institute, extended a welcome to all members of institutes present,, and wished them a happy and profitable day. The president, Mrs. II. S. Powell, welcomed the visitors, among whom were Miss Walters, of the Dominion executive, and Mesdames Dent' and Heathcote frqm Hutt Valley. In speaking of the annual report, Mrs. Powell asked that institutes combine in giving aid to UNRRA, and do all in their power to*weiccme and assist newly-arrived war brides. The financial statement. was presented, showing the finances to be in a sound position. Mrs. Eggers and Mrs. Pickering, who have completed their terms as members of the executive, received presentations. The executive for the coming year was elected as follows: — President: Mrs. H. S. Powell (Levin); vice-president and press correspondent: Mrs. M. Spencer (Levin) ; secretary: Mrs. Tabor (Poroutawhao) ; treasurer: Mrs! Gardiner (Ihakara) ; executive: Mesdames Cumberworth (Plimmerton) , Grant (Te Horo), Pupiteh (Tawa Flat) , ' W. .Taylor (Otaki)' and Kelso (Paraparaumu) . The guest speqker was Mrs. Carl Eskelund, wife of the Danish Conj sul, a charming figure in dark brown and canary yellow, who: jrelated the experiences of the Dan1 ish women during the German joccupation. Denmark was a coun'try half the size of Scotland, and like New Zealand, a farming counjtry, said the speaker. It was the loldest kingdom in the world and yet the most modern in education land legislation, "a country where few have too much, and fewer have |too little." The position of women was very I strong, 25 per cent. of the university students being women, and of tne 225 members of Parliament 15 were women, the highest percentage in the world. The Danish Women's National Council, representative of j all tlie- women's organisations, was j consulted on all legislation conceming women. The United ■ Danish Housewives Association, formed in 1920, had a membership of-over 30,000 and ran its own newspaper. . The "Housewives Substitute" in the last year had assisted 4,500 homes during illnesses and were ;paid where necessary from municipal funds. Their scheme was now I operating in 66 towns and in jCopenhagen. During the occupation the Germans behaved better in Denmark than in any other occupied country. The scldiers wore green uniforms so that the Danish (people made a joke, "whenever I ! see green I see red." This sense of humour was their first- weapon of defence and very much resented by the Germans, who were given the ' cold .shoulder as a second line of defence. The people, in spite of internal dilferences, all stuck together in a united eff ort to resist the invader. The attitude of King Christian in refusing to leave the capital, and appearing daily to thpeople in all weathers, had done much to uphold their morale. As ' a reprisal for open resistance a curfew lasting from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m was imposed for six months, this curfew being the longest in history. When on May 4 the capitulation of the German army was broadcast it was only a matter of minutes before the streets were crammed with a joyous singing crowd. During the afternoon items were contributed.by Mrs. Irving (songs). Mrs. Harrington and Mrs. Delicate (recitations) and Miss Edmonds (tap-dancing) .