Women’s Institute

Mt Benger Mail, 2 November 1938, Page 2

Women’s Institute

THE ROXBURGH MEETING The half-yearly .meeting of the Mid-Otago Federation of Women’s Institutes was held at Roxburgh i on Thursday, 27th October. The hall was decorated with flowers, and in spite of the unkind weather, there were over a hundred visitors from various parts of Otago, and twenty-one out of twenty-six institutes were represented. Miss Brenda Bell took the chair, and extended a warm welcome to all members and friends. After the minutes were read and confirmed, the treasurer presented the financial report, which showed a healthy credit balance. Matters of business were discussed, and a committee was elected to supervise the handwork which is exhibited annually at the Dunedin Winter Show. It was suggested by the delegate from Tomahawk that the Women's Institute request space for a stall, for one day, at the Winter Show for the purpose of selling handwork and produce, and it was decided that the matter be enquired into by the Show committee. Mrs Graham was elected to represent the Federation on the Dominion Council for ithe next two years, and Mrs Henderson was elected as substitute member. Miss Bell introduced Dr Sideberg-McKinnon who made an appeal for the support of the institutes for the centennial memoi'ial for women. Dr McKinnon outlined the proposals for the erection of a building which would commemorate the courage of the pioneer women of Otago. At the conclusion of Dr SidebergMcKinnon ’s address, Miss Bell addressed the assembly and gave an account of the work which is being carried on amongst the Maori race. The speaker announced that the sum of £65 19s Id had been donated by the Hutt Valley Institute to be put towards the Maori fund Miss Bell stated that a cable had been sent by the Dominion Council to Mr Chamberlain, congratulating him on his great efforts to preserve peace in the recent international crisis, and she appealed to those present to assist in rendering aid to refugees. • It is expected that a number of New Zealand women will take advantage of the trip to England, which is being organised for members of the Women’s Institute to attend the Conference of the Associated Co'untry Women of the World which is to be held in June, 1939, Miss Bell explained the plans for the tour in detail, and the approximate cost. After afternoon tea had been served, the members of the Roxburgh Institute presented an amusing one-act play. The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem;

WAITAHUNA BRANCH Mrs Walker presided at the monthly meeting of the Waitahuna Women’s Institute. The roll-call —a gardening hint —brought out quite a new lot of hints, most of the members seemed to concentrate on getting rid of the white butterfly at all costs. An interesting and instructive “Garden Talk” was given by Mrs Labes who described seed-sowing

also the propogatioii of perennials by means of division, cutting and layering. On the motion of Miss Mavis Cameron, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mrs Labes. The competitions resulted: — Garden gloves: Mi’S Walker 1, Mrs Ponder 2. Best vegetable: Mrs Labes 1, Mrs Walker 2. Best bloom: Mrs Labes 1, Mrs Walker 2.