WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1943, Page 3

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

WAIRARAPA FEDERATION ANNUAL MEETING. SUMMARY OF WAR WORK. (“Times-Age” Special.) . The annual meeting of the Wairarapa Federation of Women’s Institutes was held in Carterton yesterday. The delegates from fifteen Institutes, some of whom came from as far distant as Pirinoa, Dyerville and Mauriceville, were welcomed to the town by the Mayor (Mr D. L. Taverner) and County Council chairman (Mr F. Court), both of whom commented upon the large amount of patriotic work done by the institutes. Miss O. Wolters, president, welcomed the delegates and visitors on behalf of the executive committee. The election of officers resulted follows:—President, Miss _ O. Wolters; committee, Mesdames Diamond, Jarrett, Joblin, Kenny, McKenna, W. Nielsen, Peacock, E. Rose, Wilson, Woollett; representative to Dominion Council, Mrs Joblin. An amended remit: “That the threeminute report competition be extended to four minutes, and rules set out for the information of the Institute,” was passed. The remit: “That representation be made to the Government asking for an increase in sugar to be made to children under the age of ten years,” was lost. Mrs Bennett, a member of the Dominion Executive, gave a' most enlightening talk on Dominion Headquarters and the work of the executive members. Miss Porter, of the Wellington Hospital staff, gave an interesting and instructive talk on occupational therapy, and displayed handwork done by patients generally considered to be quite helpless. The potato competition resulted as follows: —Institutes under 30 members, Kopuaranga, 422 lbs.; Institutes oyer 30 members, Gladstone, 248 lbs.; highest individual amount, Mrs Kenny, 571 lbs. Hearty votes of thanks were passed and flowers presented to all who helped to make the meeting such a success. A summary of the war work of the Wairarapa Federation of Women’s Institutes, for the year ending March 31, 1943, showed that the federation had been responsible for 423 soldiers’ parcels and £3 19s 6d, 33 pairs of socks, 164 balaclavas, 113 pairs of mittens, 8 pairs of sock mittens, 101 scarves, 33 pullovers, 7 bedcovers, 8 wool-filled rugs, 20 pairs of gloves, 60 hussifs, 24 handkerchiefs, 300 papier mache splints and bowls, 175 garments to Red Cross, also babies’ dresses, face flannels and hot water bag covers. Knitted from homespun wool: 17 pullovers, 6 pairs of seaboot stockings, 8 balaclavas, 4 pairs of socks, 7 scarves, 10 pairs of mittens. Knitted from fleeces: 2 scarves, 1 pair of mittens. Eggs: 10 dozen to Greytown military hospital. Cooking: 10 tins ginger nuts, 17 tins shortbread, cakes and biscuits to Seamen’s Mission, Buchanan Home, Anzac Hospital, soldiers’ clubs in Wellington, also to Girls Services Club in Wellington; £1 towards catering for soldiers in hospital; books to Soldiers’ Club. Members had assisted with baking in connection with military camps, and helped with Sunday night teas at Y.M.C.A. and at military camps, also during the week at the Anzac Club, and weekly dances at Carterton* and elsewhere. First aid outfits had. been prepared and supplied to Home Guardsmen. Institutes also reported helping with the packing of parcels for patriotic boards, the Red Cross shop days, the making of splints, and work on farms for replacing men. Vegetable gardens had been increased in size. Rubber, files and waste paper had been collected. Several members had passed as V.A.D.’s. Two Institutes reported having spinning wheels, and all Institutes had knitted up patriotic wool. Parcels of scrap material had been collected to assist Northern Maori work.