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

Published by l The Ontario Women’s Institutes at Toronto, Ontario Volume 9 A MESSAGE to that challenge. RURAL WOMEN That the importance of women in rural life is being recognized was evidenced, when at the request of the Hon. Geo. A. Drew, Premier of Ont- ario, and the Hon. T. L. Kennedy, Minister of Agriculture, the Women’s Institutes of Ontario sent 10 dele- gates to the Agricultural Conference held at the Royal York Hotel, Sep- tember 2nd and 3rd. Farm youth was represented too, and three Junior Homemaking Club girls attended. As a result of that conference an "Ontario Agricultural Inquiry Com- mission" was appointed and- Mrs. Clarence Holmes was selected to re- present farm women. This commis- sion is the first of its kind in Ontario and it will make recommendations to the Government concerning agricult- ural policy and rural life. 7 ' One meeting of the commission has been held and Mrs. Holmes has been I gain chairman of a sub-com- Iité D the extension of rural WPN’I organizations and‘on rural education. Conditions created by the war have presented a real challenge to the farm women of Ontario and through their Women’s Institutes in all parts of the Province they have made a magnificent response As Minister of Agriculture, 1 am proud to have the Women’s Institutes come within the scope of my Department be- . cause of the important part which they can play in promoting a more stable and prosperous rural community in Ontario. The reports which have come to me of your purely wartime activities indicate that you are not only raising large sums of money for worthy war purposes, but are giving freely of your time and the work of your hands for the relief of distress in war~torn areas and for the comfort of those in the fighting services. In the post-war years there will still be a great work for you to do. You can give leadership in helping to solve the problems confronting our farm youth and in improving rural edu- cation. You will have your part to play in raising standards of rural life and providing a more even balance between rural and urban conditions. In all your efiorts you can depend upon my sympathetic interest and whole-hearted support. THOMAS L. KENNEDYv Minister of Agriculture for Ontario. _â€"__â€"â€"â€"â€"â€" MRS. HOLMES REPRESENTS FALL, 1943 TO THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTES 0F ONTARIO LETTERS FOR AUSTRALIA Members of the Women’s Institutes will no doubt be interested in the fol- lowing extract from a letter received recently from Mrs. W. E. Snrgood, the letter friend secretary in Australia: “Moiw Australians have but a hazy idea of Canada, and none, of the beauty of its lands and hospitality of its people. As I have been in Canada I can speak feelingly. I visited Tor- onto in 1915 when on my way to England during the Great War.‘ I have never forgotten your beautiful city or the many lovely places I Visit- ed on my return journey in 1919. If you can send any further names of your members wanting links with us we can give them corres ondents verv quickly. I feel sure t at this method of cementing closer ties be- tween us is a good one,” Are any of the Ontario members willing to respond to this appeal} Write to Mrs. A. E. Barber, Women a Institute Branch, Parliament Build< ings, Toronto. HOME and COUNTRY Number 3 SEPTEMBER CONVENTIONS “A goodly thing it is to meet In I‘l‘lundslllp's Circle bright." was uxemplifiod at the sessions of the Women‘s Institute conventions at Sheguiamlnh, Massey and Emu. It has always been my desire to travul throuin Northwestern Ontario, and when in company with our super- intendent Miss Mary A. Clarke, 1, as your pr lent. had the opportunity of attcm ing those meetings my pleas- ure knew no bounds. To one who has always lived near BellL-ville, the Noi'thland impressed me very much with its rugged hills, myriad lakes and towering trees standing sentinel against the horizon. The sky and the sunsets were par- ticularly beautiful. The train ride around the head of Lake Superior in the morning was delightful. and, on our return trip, the autumnal colour- ing of the foliage added to the beauty of the landscape. Manitoulin Island is very beautiful and our drive from Little Current to Shoguiandah was all too short. Later the ride from Emo to Kcnora was full of interest, especially when a moose and her calf forced the bus driver to a standstill. The view from the high- way bridge at Massey still remains vivid. _ How fortunate we are to be living in Ontario, endowed with such, a heritage. As Institute members, we must be concerned for the future of our province and country. Health of the Nation The theme of the conventions was "The Health of the Nation is Our Responsibility". In s coking to this, Miss Clarke said that a healthy nation must he developed physically, culturally, economically and politic~ ally. Our responsibility is to set standards, to study and to work to apply them locally and nationally. East and West Manitoulin convened at Sheguiandah on September chr enth. Mr. Stevens, in welcoming the delegates, told us the name Shogui- andah meant “slate rock" or someâ€" thing solid, which might well be ap- plied to our organization. The public hcalth nurse for Manitoulin, address- ed the meeting telling of her work in the schools and clinics. Three defects in vision had been corrected through the penny contributions of the Junior Red Cross. The Women's Institutes of the Island contribute to the Red Cross hospital at Miiidcmoya and have recently purchased a used X<Ray machine. Lost year they were re- sponsible for installing an electric refrigerator. Next year this convention will be held at Poplar. St. Joseph’s Island, Algonia East, Centre and North Shore comprise the area which met at Massey, Sep- tember 9 and 10. Mrs. Egglesfield, presiding for the opening session, in her remarks suggested that as a re- sult of the work accomplished, Woâ€" men’s Institutes might say, “I have done good work". Dr. Donnelly, Massey was an im teresting speaker at the afternoon session when he spoke on the subject “Homemakers Accept the Responsiâ€" bility for the Health of the Nation". He discussed prevention of sickness and emergencies, giving many practi- cal home remedies. The Agricultural Representative of Sudbury district, Mr. L. Leroux, was another speaker. He addressed the delegates. stressing the advantages of T. B.-testcd herds and eradication of Bangs diseasi.I and mammitis. Mrs, T. E. Dawson, Provincial Board Director for Algomo, St. Joseph's Island and Manitoulin Island, addressed both conventions, giving high lights of district annuals. The convention accepted Iron Bridgc’s in- vitation to convene there next year. Approximately one hundred and fifty delegates from Thunder Bay, Kciiora, East and West lL-iiny River asseiiible-l at Emo on the fouiiecnth and liftccnth. At the opening ses- sion llcv. W. Irav, Emu, S])Uke on "Youth Work". I! was interesting to learn of the Ad ' ry Council set up in Emu to pi vide facilities for worthwhile activities and entertain- ment for young people. \Nomen's Institutes ore conscious of tho needs of 5outh and may provide leadership in directing youth to develop a life of service. The discussion on this theme was particularly good, Fort France. ll entertain the con- venlion next year. Mrs. Wm. Wilson represents Kenora and Rainy Riv-3r districts and Mrs. A. Manley will represent Thunder Bay, on the Provincial Iloard. Mrs. Wil- son presented the resolutions and dealt with them. Between the afternoon and evening sessions of [he Iii-st day, the dele- gates were privileged to inspect the led Cross Hospital at Ema, through the kind invitation of the matron, Miss Alton. In reporting on the Standing Come mittccs I should like to select the out- standing activities but space will not permit. Some Institutvs reported giving each convcncr ten minutes to present material at each meeting. Others reported dividing their membership into groups, according to the standâ€" ing coiiuiiittuus in which they are spcc' ili' i i ' In this way each mem- ber is ii: "blc for some phase of Institute activity and study. War Work Wnr work demands special com- monlation. Hundn-ds of articles of sewing and hundreds of pairs of socks and knitted articles were reported, as well as blood donors, the buying of savings bonds and stamps, contribuâ€" tions to the ('enti‘al Fund and salvage drives. One W.I. has a war coni- mcnlatoi' at ouch iiwcting using maps. Another has compilul a lieml‘mbrnnce Book, containing nzuncs of boys and gi' ‘ enlisted and on account of we“ work done. \‘V. I. members are serv- ing with distinction on the Home Front. Constructive by M discussions were led Clarke on all reports and question boxes helped solve many problems. Assembly singing, musical selections, readings and violin solos added greatly to the enjoyment of the programme. In spite of wartime restrictions the attendance at the con- ventions was good and the serving of wholcaomc meals merits commenda- tion. To the Women‘s Institute members gathered togclher for conventions at Sheguinndah, Massey and Emo, may I say I believe you are “Seeking the common weal The good of all mankinr." And to all Institute membersâ€"“Let us keep shining the light which the man on the battlefield, and the wo- man working to bring nearer the days of peace. dreams of as coming from their homes. and let us chal» lenge any who would take the picture from us." (Contributed by Mrs. Holmes, President, F.W.l.0. Clarence