INTRODUCTION. 



W. E. Scott, Superintendent of Institutes. 



It affords me great pleasure to have this opportunity of making a few 

 introductory remarks on the occasion of the issue of the first bulletin com- 

 piled by the Advisory Board of Women's Institutes. 



ORGANIZING OP WOMEN'S INSTITUTES. 



About three years ago, the idea of establishing Women's Institutes in 

 this Province, along similar lines to those adopted in Ontario, was first 

 mooted. Miss Laura Rose of the O. A. C., Guelph, who has done good work 

 along these lines in Ontario, was approached by the Department of Agri- 

 culture with a view of getting her to make a tour of this Province in order 

 to inaugurate the movement. 



I am glad of this opportunity, as your Superintendent, of expressing to 

 JMiss Rose my appreciation of the services which she rendered to the Depart- 

 ment in this connection. On my taking office, I found that several Insti- 

 tutes, as a result of Miss Rose's visit, had been formed, but inasmuch as 

 there was no Act dealing with Women's Institutes, they had no legal status. 

 Accordingly they were included in the Agricultural Associations Act, 1911, 

 which, ipso facto, legalized all those which were in operation prior to the 

 formation of the Act. All such other Institutes as have been formed since 

 have been incorporated in accordance with the Act. 



GROWTH OF INSTITUTES. 



There has been a steady growth during the past two years and there are 

 at the present time 24 Institutes, with a membership of approximately 800. 



APPOINTMENT OF ADVISORY BOARD. 



The Advisory Board, consisting of four ladies, one from Vancouver 

 Island, one from Lower Mainland, one from the Okanagan and Boundary, 

 and one from East and West Kootenay, was formed a year ago, in order to 

 act in an advisory capacity to the Department in the conduct of Women's 

 Institute work. The value of this Board, and the justification for its 

 formation, has been abundantly proved during the past year. 



By its means, Institutes have been kept in touch with each other, and 

 much valuable information and advice has been disseminated by the Board. 

 Recommendations from the Board have always .received the most careful 

 consideration of the Department, and wtien ever possible, have been 

 acted upon. 



CO-OPERATION. 



The primary object of Women's Institutes is co-operation, and only by 

 the united efforts of all can the best results and the highest good be 

 obtained. As I have had the opportunity of touching on this subject in this 

 "bulletin, it is unnecessary for me to say more in these introductory remarks. 



SECRETARIES. 



The success of an Institute depends to a large extent on the Secretary. 

 Select for this important post a good live member with business instincts, 

 one who has the interests of the Institute at heart, then your Institute 

 will prosper. 



