1931 - Annual Convention

              12 A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
The Standing Committee of A g r i c u l t u r e was reported by Mrs. D. H .
G a l b r a i t h . V u l c a n . Convener, who gave an encouraging summary of general
conditions throughout the province, and especially urged more extensive plant­ing
of shrubs and trees, with particular attention to the home garden. See
page 55 for full report
Mrs. J. W . Johnston, Edmonton, convener of the Standing Committee on
Canadian Industries, covered a wide held in her report, and established the
members of the Women's Institute as strong supporters of Canadian products.
The report is printed in full on page 57.
Nominations for President. Vice- President and Recording Secretary were
received, with only the names of the incumbents presented, each in turn
being re- elected by acclamation. The executive remains: Mrs. H . 1. Mont­gomery.
Wetaskiwin, President; Mrs. A . H . Rogers, Fort Saskatchewan, Vice-
President; Mrs. J . X . Beaubier, Champion. R e c o r d i n g Secretary.
A delightful interlude was presented by Mrs. J. E . Bowstead. Edmonton,
in a group of songs. " Do Y o u K n o w M y Garden?" by Hayden Wood, and
" B i r d Song at Eventide." by E r i c Coates, were the numbers rendered.
Co- operation as the key- note upon which re- established world economics
would be built, was discussed at some length by the Hon. Geo. Hoadley. M i n ­ister
of A g r i c u l t u r e and Health. M r . Hoadley stated that 83 cents out of every
dollar of health expenditure was spent on people in institutions. He reviewed
his favorite scheme for community health centres by which all- round pre­ventive
care, as well as care during illness, would be assured. He regretted
the passing of the family doctor, who was acquainted with- and understood
the health history of the whole family. In his opinion, c l i n i c s were more
essential today than ever before, especially when many people cannot afford
to pay regular fees to doctors.
Mr. Hoadley then touched upon the financial situation, not only as it
affected Alberta, but the world at large. He felt that a great world co­operative
system would be the only solution to the entanglement in which
finances have become involved, and the only remedy at hand is cutting out
a i l unnecessary expenses. He further referred to the great power of insurance
companies today, which control greater wealth than banks, loan companies or
other financial organizations. He explained the system by w h i c h holdings and
produce on the farms were no longer of sufficient value to insure safety and
com f o r i , and reminded the delegates that every foot of land was as good and
as valuable as it ever had been; that the system of handling was to blame.
He quoted a great financier as saying that while the present system was at
fault, it would be bad policy to pull it down with the idea of b u i l d i n g a new
one out of uncertainties. Careful remodeling was the great necessity.
Thursday Afternoon, May 21st
The afternoon meeting opened with a short period of assembly singing,
Mrs. Montgomery and Mrs. J . P. Ferguson, Director of D i s t r i c t No. 3, presiding.
The first order of business was the election of District Directors, which
resulted as follows :
D i s t r i c t No. 1.— Mrs. W . R. Roberts. Sexsmith, re- elected.
D i s t r i c t No. 2.— Mrs. W . C. Short. Edmonton, re- elected.
D i s t r i c t No. 3.— Mrs. J. P. Ferguson, Trochu, re- elected.
D i s t r i c t No. 4.— Mrs. J. A . Campbell, M i l k River, newly elected.