WOMEN MEET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 11, 6 October 1937, Page 7

WOMEN MEET

Northern H.B. Federation of Institutes

SUCCESSFUL GATHERING Nearly two hundred delegates ahd Women's Institute members attended the half-yearly meeting of the Northern Hawke's Bay Federation of Women's Institutes, whick was held yesterday iu the Greenmeadows Hall. The floral decorations of th.6 stage were most attraetive, large jars of arum lilies being arranged aiong "the front ' and on the piano stood a jardiniere of lilac and foliage, while a bowl of colourful ranunculi and maidenhair fern decorate.d. the president 's table. "Seated on the stage were HrB D. J. Riggir (president), Mrs McHardy (secretary), Mesdames W. Bri.dgmau, 0. J. Baker, G. Dasent, Johnson, MeRobbie ahd Otene, Miss Jeromo Spencer4 O.B.E., and Sister May (iardiner. The meeting opened with the singing of the institute song, after whieh the Aspirations were read by Mrs W, Bridgman, of Havelock North. A prayer for peace theu followed, tbis Ueing read by Mrs Riggir. *Mrs Martin, as president of the Greenmeadows Institute, welcomed all ihe visitors and presented to Sister May Gardiner, of the Dominion executivo committee, a bouquet of golden tulips which was made by members of Ihe Pakowhai Institute. Miss Jeromo Speucer was also the reeipient of a lovely ball of primroses, attached to which was a long loop of gold ribbon, the ball having been made by members of the Greenmeadows Institute. Mrs Riggir welcomed all the delegates and called on Mrs Otene to read the rollcall. Mrs Osborne, of Tangoio, was tfieh presented with a service badge and the president spoke in glowing terms of thd gfeat assistance given by Mrs Osborne, who was accorde.d mtisical honours. The half-yeaily report and financial statements were presented and adopted, Miss McHardy (secretary) and Miss Dasent (treasurer) being congratulated by the president for the excelleut manner in which these had been drawn up. The following resolutions were put to the meeting and carried:— tiOn hold a competition at the Hawke's Moved by Kereru.' — That the federation hold a competition at the Hawke's Bay Spring Show for the best luneheon table. Moved by Awatoto.— That where possible the group convener, ter other person appointed for the purpose, should mahe arfangements by bus from Napier and Hastings for those wishing to attend drama festivals or other ^federation functions open to the public. The delegates' reports were then j read, each delegate being allowed two ' tninutes in which to give the outstand7 • ing features and most importan't events i of her institute for the year. Mrs ! Riggir cxtended congratulations dn the way the institutes were working. | After the luneheon adjournment the meeting re-opened with the singing of the Institute Ode. An announcemen't was made by Mrs Dasent to the elfect that Mrs Riggir would, at the next elec•tion, stand as a member for^ the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board, this being greeted with cheers by the many present. 'Sister Gardiner, who was introduced by the president, said that she considered it a great honour to be present and considered the federation to be very progressive. The speaker bfought greetings and congratulations from the Dominion Executive, who realisea tnat the federation had the ideals of the women's institutes at heart. She said that every member should look beyond ihe Dominion and see tbat the women's moVement had become a force of the world. The speaker 's special appeal was for the Maori sisters of the institutes, aud she asked the pakeha members to reaeh out and help in a very definite way, saying that their Maori sisters had done much in the past and would do>so in the future if the institutes stood by them and gave the needed assistance, Mrs Riggir thanked the speaker, saying that it had been a great pleasure to listen to her interesting talk, and asked Sister Gardiner to convey greetings to the Southern Hawke's Bay Federation, whose meeting she will also be attendmg. Miss J. McCrindell, a vigitor from England, was then introduced by the president and accorded a hearty welcome. Miss McCrindell spoke of the tremendous help that had been given to the poor by the women's institutes in England. A short community sing was held, following whieh Mrs Riggir called upon Miss Speneer, the founder of the movement, who gave a very interesting talk entitled "Where are W6 going?" The speaker said that it was wise to take stock and see where we were going.She likened the' institutes to littlc drops of water and little grains of sand, which made a mighty ocean in New Zealand. The advantages both educational and social were pointed out, and also the fuct that the institutes were tho f oundalion of tho women's movcment and everyono present had her own responsibility to it. Miss Spencor roceived great applause for her address and was thanked on behalf of the federation by the president. Two most interesting debates were then held, Miss Speneer very Mndly acting as adjudicator. The subject for the first of these was "That sport looms too largely in the public mind," The affirmative was taken by the Maraeto-tara-Waimarama Women's Institute (Mrs Elliott and Misl Gilray) and the negative by the Havelock North Women is Institute (Mrs Reilly and Mrs Ghapman-Taylor ) . In announeing the affirmative speakers the winners, Miss Speneer said that it was a good effort on both sides. The second subject was "That the censorship of films and books is desirable," the affirmative being taken by 1 Puketapu Women's Institute (Mrs Earl and Mrs Perry) and the negative by Greenmeadows Women's Institute (Mrs Seott and Mrs White). Miss Speneer announced the negative speakers to be the winners. Mrs Riggir then presented the following prizes: — The Tawa Cup to the Puketitiri Women's Institute; cup for layette eet competition, Sherenden

Women 'is Institute; Maraetotara-Wai-marama and Eskdale tied for second placo, and Puketitiri and Bay View tied for tiiird place. Kereru Women's Institute received a posy bowl of grape hyacinths and primulas for heading the list for home and . country subscribers. The lovely floral sprays worn by executive members were made by members of the Pakowhai and Greenmeadows Institutes. The hostesses for the day, the Heretaunga Groups, were thanked by the president and the meeting then elosed with the singing of the National Anthem,