WOMEN'S INSTITUTE REPORT. 45 



generally considered tEat the Institute organization for country women 

 is by far the best of any women's organization in the country. Had more 

 time been allowed for presenting"* the aUns and objects of Institutes no 

 doubt a greater spread in the movement would have resulted throughout 

 the States, as the Institute seemed to meet the case of the farm woman 

 better than any other rural society. 



PRESS MEETINGS. 



There were many newspaper women in attendance at the Congress 

 and an International Press Association was formed of the women writers 

 present. Your official representative and the delegate from Vancouver 

 Island Institutes were both eligible for membership and were invited to 

 join. Mrs. Hutchinson and I therefore joined this Association, and we 

 hope that considerable advertisement of the Province will accrue from 

 our connection with these women writers from all over the Continent. 

 The meetings held were very interesting and one direct result will no 

 doubt be the immediate improvement of the home section of Agricultural 

 papers throughout the States and Canada. The low standard hitherto 

 existing in this section of the country papers were heartily condemned, 

 and all present pledged themselves to use their pens and influence for 

 the betterment of these Women's Departments. This in itself ought to 

 make a great difference to the conditions of country life. 



A dinner was given to the representatives of the press of the whole 

 Congress. About eighty men and women members were present. Your 

 representative was given the seat of honor next to the Minister of Agricul- 

 ture for that Province, and was able to glean a good deal of useful 

 information regarding plans for Women's Institute work in Alberta. A 

 short speech was given by the Minister, the Hon. Duncan Marshall, then 

 several other brief and interesting speeches were made. 



UNIVERSITY GRADUATES. 



We were unable owing to the full programme to get any statistics 

 as to the number of University women present. There were undoubtedly 

 a large numbe'r in attendance, and we noted the importance of this fact 

 in considering the conditions of country life. We called a meeting of 

 graduates, but many were unable to be present. It was, however, noted 

 that at every session there were a number of college women present, and 

 it was regarded as a helpful sign fhat college trained women were giving 

 their attention to the country life movement. Gratification was expressed 

 that the Secretary of our Advisory Board is also a member of the Senate 

 of B.C. The comment was made that the link was thus effected between 

 higher education, and the problems of country women. 



CONFERENCE OF INSTITUTE WORKERS. 



At the suggestion of your Advisory Board, Mr. Putnam, head of the 

 Ontario Branch, asked the Secretary of the Congress to call a Conference 

 of Institute Workers in Canada. This Conference was held, Mr. Putnam 

 presiding, and official representatives from almost every Province were 

 present. It is dealt with in a separate report enclosed herewith, 



