WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 414, 30 May 1947, Page 5

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Sir,-In your issue of December 13, 1946, I said that contrary to general belief Women’s Institutes existed in New Zealand during the last decade of the last century. With commendable zeal Barbara Harper has searched the newspaper files in the Christchurch Public Library and maintains (in your issue of April 3) her original statement that these institutes were first established in New Zealand in 1921. I can recall, however, that the early movement failed to secure the respect of the majority of the men or the serious attention of the press. Just recently I caused inquiries to be made from one whom I knew to have been intimately associated with this early movement, and here in substance is what she says: "The Malvern (Springs field, Sheffield, Russell’s Flat-all in Canterbury) Women’s Institute was founded about 1894 or 1895 and was a branch of the Canterbury Womén’s Institute founded about 1892, They held no exhibitions of flowers or cookery, and though interested as individuals in lite erature did not attempt talks, plays, or readings. But having been just granted the franchise they discussed social and political matters, and some very important early legislation for the protection of women and girls was due to their cogent and persistent tepresentation." Strange indeed in 1921 to go to Eng« land for a name intimately known to many in New Zealand apparently at least two decades before its use in’ England! When anniversaries are celebrated let due credit be given the bold pioneerg of the financially straitened ’nineties,

J.W.

C.

(Auckland),