December, I 9 I 8
THE LANDSWOMAN
E. Prothero, M.V.O., M.P., President of the Board of Agriculture
and Fisheries, gave an inspiring address on the " Possibilities
of the Future of Women's Institutes," which gave the key-note
to the proceedings and will prove a stimulus to the movement.
:Miss Meriel Talbot, C.B.E., Director of the Women's Branch
of the Board of Agriculture aud Fisheries, in a few happy words
expressed her pleasure at the gathering and congratulated the
members on the success of their work.
On Saturday, October 26th, the Rt. Hon. Mrs. Alfred Lyttelton,
D.B.E., Deputy Director of the Women's Branch of the Board
of Agriculture and Fisheries, gave a delightful address, in which
she spoke of the wonderful success of the Exhibition, which she
said was undoubtedly due to :Miss Alice Williams.
Mrs. Lloyd. George visited the Exhibition on Monday the 28th
-Welsh Day-and in a few kindly words expressed her sympathy
in the movement, which has taken deep root in her own mountain
land·. Deep regret was felt that the Rt. Hon . H. A. L. Fisher,
M.P., President of the Board of Education, was unavoidably
prevented from attending the Exhibition on Tuesday the 29th
~o speak on the Education Bill. This Bill has excited intelligent
From the beginning to the end of the undertaking the utmost
good humour prevailed: not a sign of bad temper was shown,
a remarkable statement when we remember the hundred and one
petty annoyances incidental to such an effort.
The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries may well be
congratulated on its sagacity in promoting such humanising
associations. We doubt if a Government Department has ever
displayed such imagination and courage. The imagination to
realise new ideas and courage to put them into action.
The apparent benefits of Women's Institutes are great and
promote the material welfare of villages, but the unseen benefits
that accrue from a contented, busy, rural population cannot be
overstated.
The country owes much to its womanhood for services rendered
during the war. For a share in building up a newer, better countJ y
after the war the women must be responsible, and the vety
foundation of the rebuilding relies on the help of the women in
rural England.
for speakers on the subject. ·
The Rt. Hon. Sir Laming Worthington Evans, Bart., 1\LP.,
Minister of Blockade, gave a most excellent address on the
necessity of producing a big home-grown food supply. As the
Institutes have hitherto concentrated on increased food produc·
VEN those who by watching the daily progress of the Institute
movement know the loyal enthusiasm which it arouses in its
supporters were pleasurably surprised at the readiness with which
delegates elected to represent Institutes situated in the n:cst
remote parts of England and Wales, undertook long and (in
these days) tiresome journeys to London in order to be present
at the Annual General Meeting.
'
With the exception of the Executive Committee, none but
delegates and visitors elected by Jnstitl1tcs were invited to attend .
Yet by 10 a.m. some 600 people had assembled in the large
Cathedral Hall, which was hired when it was found that the
meeting had far outgrown the Caxton Hall.
The opening speeches of Miss Tal bot, the Hon. l\1rs. Alfred
Lyttleton, the Lady Denman, and Mrs. Alfred Watt were listened
to with the greatest interest.
Miss Alice Williams, the popular organiser of the Great Exhi·
bition, was received with great applause when she rose to read
the year's financial statement.
The two chief items on the agenda were the consideration of
the constitution and the election by ballot of the Executive
Committee for the current year.
Mrs. H. G. Stobart nioved the former, which was adoptedafter a few amendments had been made-by a very large
majority.
Thirty-three candidates had been nominated for election to the
Executive Committee to fill fifteen vacancies.
The following were elected, the names being given in alpha·
betical order :Benita Lady Lees.
Mrs. Lynn All en.
The Lady Isobel Margesson.
The Lady Denman.
Mrs. P. Heron·Maxwell.
Mrs. Godfrey Drage.
The J,ady Petre.
The Hon. 1\frs. Grant.
1\frs. H. G. Stobart.
Miss Grace Hadow.
Mrs. Alfred Watt.
J . Nugent Harris, Esq.
Miss Alice Williams.
Urs. Huddart.
Miss Kingsmill.
The charge of the ballot-room and the counting of. the votes
was in professional hands, and it is a good augury of the care
which woman will exercise at the polls that of the hundreds of
ballot papers which were used only only one was spoilt!
The follo"1ng resolution on "Village Societies and Women's
Institutes" was proposed by the Lady Petre, Thorndon W .I.,
seconded by Miss Gildea, Bradford Abbas W.l., and carried hy a
large majority :" That, in view of the recommendations by the Agricultural
Policy Sub-Committee of the Cabinet Reconstruction Committee
and of the accumulating evidence that efforts will be made to
organise Village Clubs and Institutes consisting of men and
women, the National Federation of Women's Institutes deprecates
any action to alter the constitutio