The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Published by The Ontario Women’s Institutes at Toronto, Ontario WAR wank REPORTS Semi-annual reports received from 1.0, Women’s institutes for the period from April 1,4942 to Septemâ€" ber 30, 1942; show that excellent work continues to be carried; on. But, please rude that reports have been received from only 83 per cent of the Insti- (lites. Again we ask every Institute to return the forms promptly so that the record of Institute work in On- LLII‘ID may be more nearly complete Of the Institutes reporting 835 are gi-uperating with the Ontario Diviâ€" mun, Red Cross Society; of these 442 me carrying on all their war work t «high the Red Cross. Money Raised E,\17€ndltlll‘esâ€" , Wool and sewing supplies 9,435‘32 Jam, honey or sugar fund 9,499_37 ....$49,374.18 Central Fund, F.W.I.C 1,385.50 Red Cross .. 8,716.48 Navy League .. 3,054.82 Salvation Army 1,378.04 British War Victims’ Funds 2,273.40 llilk For Britain Fund 425.85 Hihet Funds 4,274.72 \l'ar Savings 2,527.35 Gifts to local enlisted men 8,199.12 'tting 31,663 articles r-\vmg 0,212 articles , .lplB Sugar, lbs. (approx) 410 You will note that less work is re- ported for the period covered by this art, than for the preceding six lunnths reported in the Summer 1942 lmne and Country. This situation in curs every year because, as is to be «7 [rectech more work is done during I‘ ) winter months than in the busy « minier season. However, comparing this report v, III] the same period for the previous yvar (see Home and Country, Winter W11-212), there is a noticeable deâ€" r nose in knitted articles and a slight dwirease in sewing. Is this because ' s work has been done or because mrts have not been so complete? st year 1,118 reports were received, , ,vmpared with 1,059 this year. ,1] fxlvllessa: Mobile Kitchen. The Women’s Institutes of Middle- ‘ r Co. with the Junior Farmers and Junior Girls are raising money for purchase of one mobile kitchen ' emergency use in vulnerable areas Canada. This kitchen will be simi- 161" to the one purchased by the Cenv Irill Fund, F.W.I.O. GIFTS ARE APPRECIATED The following letter addressed to inc Women’s Institutes will tell you lust how much your gifts of sewing : appreciated. It is from Wembley, .‘Iuldlesex, England: "Dear Ladiesâ€"I wish to thank you fur a pair of trousers, with your ad» mess tacked in, which were in a par- rvl from the 5.8. and A.F.A. which Ms gratefully received by me The U'Uusers are really beautifully made and I love the natty piece of elastic I" the back. They fit my middle boy 0f Six years; the other boy is thirteen and I have a daughter of three. If 0"11’ you could see the faces of those Who receive your gifts you would feel IWW worthwhile is your labour. Don- ald feels inches taller because he is so proud to know his trousers have come from Canada. ::God bless you all and your labour. It's too late to wish you all a Happy Xmas, but not for a Happy NEW Year." WINTER, 1942-43 Number 4 WELCOME F.W.I.O. PRESIDENT i MRS. C. HOLMES Institute members look forward to meeting their newly elected President in person soon, but in the meantime, members everywhere extend to Mrs. Clarence Holmes congratulations, a sin- cere welcome. and assurance of co~ operation. Mrs. Holmes has been a member of the Bay of Quinte Institute for seven- teen years. In addition to the responsi~ bilitics oi oflice in her own Institute and in the District of Hastings West she has been chairman of the Belleville Convention and convener of the com- mittee on Agriculture and Canadian Industries for that Area. Mrs. I-Iolmcs was elected to the Provincial Board in 1940 representing Subdivision 4. Al- ways, Mrs. Holmes has been keenly interested in Junior activities. Mrs. Holmes, who before her marriage was a school teacher, now lives at “Justamere”, a dairy farm near Belleville. Vl’hen you have the opportunity to chat with her you may find out that she is enthusiastic about interior decor» ating. She has dramatic ability, too, for just last {all she took part in the lively play presented by the Bay of Quinte Women’s Institute at the Belleifille convention. To her position Mrs. Holmes brings a great variety of interests, a pleasing personality, a fine understanding of rural life, an appreciation of the part which women can play in the world today and a sincere devotion to the ideals of the Women’s Institutes. GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT Fellow Women Institute Membch of Ontario: "GREETINGS" In assuming leadership of such an outstanding organization as ours, I solicit your co-operation and united support for the attainment of the ideals expressed in our motto, “For Home and Country". I wish to pay tribute to the splendid leadership given us by our retiring president, Mrs. Ernest Duke, and I can only hope for continued advance» ment in all Institute activities during my term of ofiice. Support War Work The Central War Charities Fund merits your hearty and continued sup» port. Response was good last your. Make your objective this year a conâ€" tribution from every Women’s Insti- tute member throughout the provmcc. Salvage is a vital necessity in this war. Continue your efforts to collect scrap, particularly fats and bones. Canada today faces a serious short- age of fats and oils for war indus- tries. We have learned to make use of discarded materialâ€"a lesson we must not forget in the future. With additional rationing ahead, let us coâ€"operate with the government by buying only necessities. Luxury buye ing must go for the duration. Are your liaison officers keeping your members informed of the new ruling: of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board? Let us be alert to new regu» lations which concern the welfare of our homes and families. Rural Opportunities Rural Women have donc_a magnifi- cent job this past year assisting With farm work for higher Egg, bacon, cheese and milk production. There seems no end to the tasks women are doing today to release men for active service and the heaviest jobs in war industries. It is as essential that a soldier have food in his stomach as that he have a gun in his hand. Guard your health well, for strenuous days lie ahead, and to efficiently engage in the campaign for Greath Food Pro- duction, one must be physically fit. At all times let us remember, and instil into the minds of our boys and girls that there is dignity in labour; he who produces food from the earth is of the highest type of mankind. Let us continue our fight against tuberculosis, a post war disease; let us continue the study of mental diseases; let us plan to assist. the war widow to arrange her future and plan to receive and accept New Canadians. \Vould you consider lending a hand to the hospital in your own or the nonr- est town, where there is such n dearth of hele Is there a need in your com- munity to help meet the housing situ- ation? Home In I mportant The New Year is at handâ€"Tho New Year is typical of a new era. In- stitute members, you are the women, who, with your broad outlook on life and varied experiences, must take the initiative in planning for this new world. We must think clearly today and plan wisely. Our children must be trained to have clean hands, un- selfish minds and stout licartsi We may plan for the future, but it is they who will carry on. I appeal to you even when wortimc activities are foremost in your minds, not to forget your home life. Live as normal :1 life as possible and keep alive a good community fellowship where wholesome recreation may be enjoyed near home. We must keep up the home morale. We must fight our fears, never indulging in depressing talk. Remember it is as much our patriotic duty to be cheerful as to knit sacks for soldiers. So in this new year of 1943 let us resolve that we, the Women's Instiâ€" tutes of Ontario, will continue our march forward giving leadership in all activities for the cultural better- ment of our "Home and Country". Signed: N. PEARL HOLMES SALUTE T0 MEMBERS EMMA M. DUKE All soldiers are not wearing the uniform of the Navy, the Army or the Air Force”,â€"â€"this or similar stateâ€" ments we hear on our radios, or read in magazines and in our daily papers. Having recently concluded my official i s to the area conventions, also my t ird and final term as Pro- vincial President of Ontario Wom- en’s Institutes, I feel I can speak authoritatively when I say, “There are no better soldiers than the women who are holding the home front They do not have any identifying uniform but Ontario Women’s Institute mem- bers are truly “Soldiers of the King”. Salute For Courage There were very few homes repre- sented at the conventions but had given of their man power-Abe it hus~ band, son or brother. In some cases loved ones would never return. “My son was the first boy killed from our village and I have two more boys in the services”. “I have not heard it my son for months, he is in the Navy". “My son is a prisoner of war". These and many other statements ll’lL't one at every turn. You could sense the hidden heartache under the pride in the voice and eyes. My sulntc to you. Some women would tell me, apolo- getivnlly, that they could not give as much time to knitting and sewing as they would like. or as uthurs were able to do. They had more liens this year; they were milking more cows; and with labour so *lort they were doing the bulk of thch chores. Then there was an evti’n litter of pigs to uttcnd to mid they had liclped with the Imrvest and the soc-ding. Do these women realize how fortunaLc they are to be able to do thisâ€"this, the most viLnl wnr Wurk of all? No other women i'nn clnim the credit or "itis~ faction which is that of tlic "(llllL'll who are able to make this contribute tinn. Food is the greatest wvapon. Nu factory I turn out milk for Choose: no plant can produce eggs for dehydration; no machinery or c hogs which will reach our sold] III the form of bacon. Stand at nttn tinn and Luke the utu. Every \vn is milklllll lIL’l’ con- tribulion \vhrrc slic is, in tlu» way which is 0pm! to her. The knitting, the sewing, the jinn making, the liuvvs sent to the lnvud ones, the hospitality extended when possible. on, in many. many ways our \vomvn soldiers (In: solving. Solute For Idcnls Why are we all doing this“! It i fnr your Hume and your Coun- it not? It is to help uphold the plcs of d: Iocracy and In hold, ton, the id(I s which you chi'r The price of on iilcnl is high. W we pay the price? Yes, we will. The medium of exchange Is not money. It is untirini: vigilance, work, sncrillce and rcsponsibility,â€"all we have, all we are, n11 we hope for in yours to come. To few is given the opportunity of seeing the full fruits of their work. Nevertheless We must he loyal to our ideals and never lnse sight of them. They will be the guid- ing star which will lead us, out of the chaos in which we {Ian ourselves at present, to a true and lasting peace. They will lead us to the light in our blind groping for a new World. They will make it possible for us to bear the sorrows and sacrifices which we will be called upon to make and bear. (Continued, page 4, col. 4) d.