940 



Women's Institutes. 



[Jan., 



WOMITN'S mSTlTUTES AND AGRI- 

 CULTURAL EDUCATION.- 



Percy G. Dallinger, O.B.E., B.A., 



Chief Education Inspector, Ministry of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries. 



There is no means by which co-operation between Women's 

 Institutes and the Ministry of Agriculture can be more effectually 

 secured than by the Officers in each Women's Institute keeping 

 in close touch with the Committee responsible for agricultural 

 education in the county and with the county staff. Where an 

 Agricultural Organiser is appointed, his assistance and advice 

 should be sought on any question connected with agricultural 

 education in the county. If the Women's Institute is satisfied 

 that there is a need for instruction which is not provided, or, if 

 provided, is not within reach of the members of the Institute, 

 this should be brought to the Organiser's notice in the first 

 instance. He may be compelled to say that his staff at that 

 time is unable to undertake additional work, but he is not likely 

 to refuse a reasonable request. 



This means can be effectively used not only for securing what 

 is available, but for securing what may be found to be important 

 for further development. If a Women's Institute in a county 

 submitted a considered scheme for the improvement of agricul- 

 tural education in its district to the Local Authority through the 

 Agricultural Organiser it would very likely receive support. It 

 is suggested that in framing such a scheme the Agricultural 

 Organiser be consulted and that his criticism be invited. 



No one who has studied the W^omen's Institute movement can 

 doubt that it can secure means for its ends, provided that those 

 ends are clearly stated, and that as a preliminary every advan- 

 tage is taken of the existing machinery. It is true that in some 

 counties the present staff is inadequate; that in all, the staff is 

 busily engaged and it may not be possible to accede immediately 

 to a request for help. Spasmodic requests are the most difficult 

 to meeet; a steady demand cannot be ignored. 



If Women's Institutes will inform themselves fully of the work 

 f the Agricultural Staff in the County and keep in close touch 

 with the work of agricultural education, they will find that atten- 

 tion will be given to any reasonable proposals they may make for 



* Abstract of a lecture delivei-ed to the Women's Institute Section, Forum 

 (Jlub, on Monday, 8th November, 1920. 



