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Some 0! the member: nl Huntingdon-Chnmugnny County Institutes called 'oguther to meet Elizabeth Christmas, General organizer, Women's institutes of angina and Wales Miss cumin." ,5 seen in exact centre, trout row. on her icit, Mrs. D. F. Orr, County President; right, litre. w. 0. Small- man, Provincial President. Quebec Honors British Visitor NE of the nicest experiences this writer has had in some time was when she accompanied Elizabeth Christmas, general or- "ionizer of the Women's Institutes & England and Wales, to Hunt- ingdnn, and to snerhrooke, Que- bec, for the meetings called in her honor. I The 16 mile drive from Sher- brooke to the home of Mrs. Flor- ence Drummond, president oi Belvederc institute, was eiirnaxed when Miss Christmas was made a member of Belvedel'e institute and the w.i. pin presented to her. Speaking of the ork of the or- ganization in Britain, Mig Christa mus. interspicing her iniorrnai talk with humorous little true stories, brought the Women's in- stitutes or her own country vivid- ly to mind in the friendly, closely packed livingruom where the Can-- adian w,i. members listened with sympathy and admiration. in Sherhrooke next day several hundred members of snerhrooke County Women's Institutes gath-- ehed again to give her a warm welcome. Here Miss Christmas was pre< sented with a life membership pin in the Federated Women's insti- tutes of Canada, by Mrs. G. F. w. Kuhrlng, Federated Corresponding Secretary, tin the absence of Mrs. Dowt who in turn received from Miss Christmas the gift books and handicraft exhibit described on page 40. A personal gift of silk stockings. very acceptable in view of Britain's clothes rationing, was given Miss Christmas from the Institute members. ' in describing some at the im- portant aspects of w.i. work, Miss Christmas recalled that the organ- ization is an educational one. aimed at developing the talents ot individual members. "It is not so much the influence on a group but what it does to the individual that really counts," she said. and told an amusing little story which struck a responsive chord in the hearts of her listeners. In Dorset ' a 75-year-old woman whose hus» band had been disabled had brought up eight children, earning the family living by taking in the village washing. When her fam- ily was grown she began to take an interest in Institute work and finally was hadgered into accept- ing it part in an institute play (part of the drama program of the British \VJ.) The play was presented finally at the County Festival and won the cup. Another year this same group won the cup again and was chosen out of eight institutes to go up to London to demonstrate institute talent, Said the old lady to Miss Christ- "You know, Miss, they don't of mt- now as the village washel'wonlan, but as the member who had the leading part in the play that wont to London Miss Christmas emphasized that being essentially a democratic or- gnnimllon. institute members meet on an equal footing. Queen Elizabeth is not an Honorary Pre- sident, but a President oi Sand- ringham institute and works at it. 'Wc try to give every member the opportunity of serving the Institute--as officers, on commit- tees, eto. in order to make our work fair we have not only a secret ballot but also we have written nominations, feeling as we do that nominations by word of mouth make it difficult to get more than one nomination. In this way we receive the real wish oi the members." "We have been developing small discusion groups consisting of not more than eight or nine women to a group. One month we might have a discussion on Housing if, say our speaker at the next meeting is to be an orchi- tect. After the discussion the leader sums up the ideas ex-- pressed ond thus intelligent pre- paration is made against the next moetin " "Peace is not just an absence of war," Miss Christmas declared. "We, as individuals must try to concern ourselves internationally." she spoke of the great interna- tional organization, the Associated Countrywnmen of the World with which the Institutes are aifiliatcd. saying, "If we try to think inter- nationally--really do something about it, we shall be laying the foundations of peace." Also described were the plans for rebuilding the damaged areas. some of which will naturally have to wait until the war with Japan is over. in addition a whole new plan [or education is under way by which equality of opportunity according to ability will be made possible. Ten thousand teachers a year will need to be trained for the next three years. There is also o plan to raise the school leaving age to 15 and 16, and for the 16 to 18 age group compuls- ory schooling at least one day a week (or whatever hours can best be managed). The plan depends on teachers, buildings and the speed with which it can be put into of- feet. Mrs. Roswell Thomson 0! Ab- botslord. representing the Provin- cial Board, introduced Miss Christ- mas and Mrs. Abercrombie e pressed the thanks of the mem- bers. Miss Doris Cillis pr ed. At Huntingdon, Miss Christmas told the members of the Hunting. don-Chateauguay County of the deep afioction and profound gra-- titude British Institutes feel for Canada. She spoke of the Insti- tutes in wartime as being the "centre of sanity" represented by our homes. British w.i. members have had one or the toughest jobs or all in wartime . . . necessity has made us better cooks. partly be- cause at training git-en through the Institutes in Cooking vege- tables. Also described was the basket making project taught in WI. basketrnaking centres. The baskets were made from Honey- suckle, Wisteria, dogwood, willow, etc. a "We at home in Britain are prepared to see rationing go on for some time yet . . . the need or Europe is infinitely greater now." Miss Christmas felt that the In- stitute's greatest contrbiution had been in giving women confidence in order to be of service to the community--giving every w.1. member an opportunity for de-- veloping her personality. Appretinfion for the generous gifts sent from Canadian insti- w movingly expressed and variety enumerated as gEVen in detail in the story on page 40 and Miss Christmas spoke too of the kindness and hospitality of- fordth airforce men in the coin- monwealth Air Training scheme, and the "wonderful Canadian wu)' of welcoming war bridt's." I Mrs. D. F. Orr, county prem-- dent, was in char 9 of the meet- ing. Also present 5m Mrs. w. c. Smalhnan. provincial president. Miss Christmas was the guest "honor at a luncheon prior to the meeting. BORN THIRTY Quebec County Institutes . Hold Annual Meeting Ill'HE 21st annual convention of the Chattnuguay-Huntingdon Counties Women-s Institutes was held recently at Howie): with Mrs. D. P, Orr, county president, pre- riding. The secretary's report showed a membership of 195 distributed among seven branches. Among other activities reported were filling ditty bags, Red Cross ' work, and community projects. to- gether with hospital contributions and support oi beds in some. ' The afternoon session was ad- dressed by Mr. John Clnrk, chici inspector Soldiexs' Settlement and Veterans Land Act,.who spoke of the provisions made for returned men to Settle on (arms. The mal- ter was of great interest to a gathering of rural women. Miss Verron representing the Blue Cross Hospital Plan, ex-- plained very fully the bcnotits to be derived from participation in this scheme. By Mrs. S. D. Cunningham Resolutions covered a number of subjects including pricc control, ~ ich the ntmebers felt should be 'gomlnuetl. Rationing, which must be continued to 1furly distribute food. One resolution asked that allegedly immoral magazines to be prevented from newsstands an resolution Institute Another Women's help war country. doing c power \0 make them Canada. The officcl'ti' elected with convener appearing on a requested retusol of entry to Canada of same. asks members . brides arriving in this verything in their hapily were re- tlto excep'lon of one all to in Miss Evelyn Walker, niwly lnted demonstrator, 5190 c on phgnlllet": Role in Vocnuonal Guld- once." of Abbolslol'd, Provincial Boar Mrs. Rosewell Thompson, represented d and asked for the ' d 5" on. of the progeclg sponsorl: : bypgvomen's Institutes 1n Quebect ] / H|, MOM! I'M-UH-- / WlPlM' MY FEET 600D 'FORE I COME IN. BUT LGOKIT THEY'RE GITTIN AWFUL SCARCE 1'le TIME 0 YEAR Btn n Ems 131:5 - l WMV to. __.-. ./ /\.' VEARS to soon hummus-3'?" >45 , L-f *