600 Schools fok Women's Institute Organisers. [Oct.,. 



Women's Institutes have from the outset been based 



on the principle of self-government. During the short 



_ , , „ period when Institutes were still only 

 Schools for ,. xl . , J 

 „_ , T ... . finding their way as a national move- 

 Women's Institute . ... . ' , 

 ^ ruent, assistance was given by the 

 Organisers. ,. r . ' b J 

 ° Ministry. 



The Women's Branch of the Ministry was made responsible, 

 for a period of about eighteen months, for the development of 

 the organisation throughout the country. This, however, was 

 only a temporary arrangement, and was intended to be so, from 

 the outset, as it was obvious that the permanent strength of the 

 movement rested upon the basic principle of self-government. 

 When the Women's Branch was no longer responsible for 

 propaganda work, the Ministry, who recognised the value of 

 Women's Institutes to the rural life of the country, decided 

 that it would be well to secure a high standard of work among 

 those responsible for the further development of the movement. 

 Treasury sanction was, therefore, obtained to form two schools 

 of instruction for Women's Institute organisers, which should 

 be held, if possible, at " University " centres and last for at 

 least a fortnight. By this arrangement, Organisers are given 

 an opportunity of meeting the leading men and women at the 

 Universities and of learning from them. Short as the sessions 

 must be, such schools will undoubtedly quicken interest in the 

 subjects discussed, while the lecturers will be able directly to 

 encourage and suggest further lines of study. 



Of the organisers employed by the National Federation of 

 Women's Institutes, a small number are paid, full-time 

 officers, who explain Women's Institute work in the villages, 

 organise new Institutes, and perform much valuable after-care 

 work. In addition to paid organisers, a considerable number 

 of women who have knowledge of Women's Institute 

 principles and methods and who can give a certain portion of 

 their time to develop the movement in their own counties, 

 have been appointed voluntary organisers to the Federation. 

 From both these classes, 40 students have been selected for 

 the Ministry's Schools of Instruction. The first School opened 

 on 20th September and closes on 2nd October, at Oxford, 

 where Professor Somerville and Mr. Ashby of the School of 

 Rural Economy gave every facility, both as regards lecturers 

 and accommodation. The second school will be open at the 

 University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, from 18th to 30th 

 October. " Principal Davies and his staff are taking active 

 interest and are giving generous assistance in the school. 



