Women’s Institute

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 11

Women’s Institute

RONGOTEA There was a largo attendance of members at tho February meeting of tho Women’s Institute. Tho date of the annual meeting was postponed until Friday, March 12, and members were reminded of tho group meeting to bo held at Taikorca on Wednesday, March 3. At tho conclusion of tho business tho president, Mrs. H. V. Barnhill, welcomed Miss Grant' to whoso travel talk members had been long looking forward. Before speaking of her trip to Washington Miss Grant referred to the pleasure all members must feel at the honour conferred upon Miss Spencer 0.8. E., and spoke with regret of the passing of Mrs M. G. Bibby, of Waipawa who, until this year, when she retired, had been one of the oldest members of tho Dominion executive. Tho late Mrs Bibby had composed tho ode to friendship and had also designed ono of the first covers of the Home and Country magazine. Of her trip to Washington Miss Grant had much that was both interesting and amusing to relate. The women of twenty-five countries had been represented at the Congress, but by far the greatest number came from tho forty states of America. They showed great initiation arriving by ’plane, rail, car, special trains, motorcars, etc. and some, in order to reduce expenses and make the trip possible, had chartered special trains in which they camped at Washington. After spending a day or so at the Dodge hotel with Miss Large and Mrs Paterson, the other New Zealand delegates, it was learned that the foreign delegates were to receive hospitality and Miss Grant, for the remainder of the Congress, stayed with a Air and Mrs Slade, Mr Slade being in charge of the Research Department of the Congress Library. The Congress commenced on Sunday, May 31, the opening service being in the new Washington Cathedral which, though it holds 5,000 people, was too small for tho 7,300 delegates and members. At the opening meeting the delegates gavo tho greeting in tho language of their country. Miss Grant gave a typical Maori greeting and was later both amused and complimented on being asked if she had found tho learning of English difficult. Tho number of women üble to speak two and more languages i other than their native tongue, deeply impressed the speaker, who suggested that New Zealand women were a little lazy and could with profit add at least ono other language to their list of accomplishments. Of all the women attending tho Congress, Miss Grant was most deeply impressed by the German women. The German Government had paid all expenses to enable two women to attend the Congress, and both wero remarkable women, beautiful, gracious with brilliant intellects so that it was a joy to make their acquaintance. But it was with the women of America that tho speaker felt New Zealand women had most in common. Their country, like ours, is young and our difficulties and struggles the same, though on a smaller scale, and she felt that New Zealand women could learn a great deal from their American sisters who are doing so much to make life easier and leave more time for the more pleasant and gracious side of life. Their attention to diet has resulted in expert advice being readily available to all, and a family knows exactly how much land should bo under cultivation to supply it with vegetables for the year, and even the number of rows of each vegetable required. Red meats are not so largely eaten as in the Dominion, but chicken figures in nearly every menu, and a great quantity of milk is consumed. Education does not cease with school, and is carried on even after marriage, and music and drama find a place in tho lives of most women. There is at present a movement on foot in America to bring about a better understanding between the English speaking nations and it would appear that the Cogress had done much to break down the barriers between the women of tho world’s nations. The garden party at White House was lightly touched upon and Mrs Roosevelt’s amused consternation when she realized that the guests would number 7,300 and not in the vicinity of 1,000 as was at first imagined. On tho last night of the Congress a banquet was held at the Willard Hotel, it being also Airs Watt’s birthday. Referring to the exhibition of handcraft, Miss Grant said that the New Zealand exhibit, though small, was well received, the Maori exhibits being greatly admired, but the need for a member to attend and explain the exhibits was keenly felt, none of the three delegates being available. In fact the speaker said that, to cover all the sessions of the Congress, ten delegates would have been most welcome, and she recommended the members of the Institute to commence saving their pennies for the next Congres r iich would be held in three year’s time. At the conclusion of her talk Miss Grant was warmly applauded by the members. The roll call (hints for the next programme,) met with a great variety of suggestions and the month’s competition (scones) was won in the senior division by Mrs Hurst, first with Mrs Burgess second, and in the junior division —Miss A. Hurst.

A committee meeting of tho Stanway Women’s Institute was held on Wednesday last, Mrs Marshall * presiding. Arrangements for the last meeting of tho institute year were made and also final arrangements for the entry in the Institute Class at the Feilding Show. The matter of the picnic was still held