1931 - Annual Convention

              S E V E N T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 51
M r s . M c Q u a r r i e of Grande Prairie r e p o r t s : Outline sent out. Visiting
Committees appointed. At Wembley a special meeting was called and the
subject of Immigration discussed. They wish all laws regarding immigration
enforced, and consider Orientals undesirable. They would like a resolution
requesting that a l l foreigners be compelled to speak the English language
before being allowed to secure naturalization papers and title to land.
Miss F . Clark, Coutts, sends in an interesting report: A l l the Institutes
i n the Warner Constituency have V i s i t i n g Committees appointed, and have
formed strong L i n k s in their correspondence with the L i n k s of Empire. Sun­shine
Institute at Coutts is the International Institute and is r e a l l y doing more
good immigration work than they report. They receive letters through the
L i n k s of E m p i r e from England and Scotland, and were also very proud to
receive one from Spirit River, Alberta. They had a barrister speak on the
immigration laws of Canada. In this International Institute they held a
unique membership drive. There were two teams of 11 women each, the
winners to be entertained by a supper. The men were allowed to join as
associate members, their fees to pay for the supper and the losing side to do
the w o r k ; 39 men joined and 24 new women.
Mrs. E. A . M c D o u g a l l . Penhold, asks for kindly consideration for new­comers,
and especially the fostering of talent, and reports good papers given.
M r s . A t k i n s o n , Didsbury, reports a very thorough discussion of the immi­g
r a t i o n program with the following conclusions: That the money spent in
eucouraging i m m i g r a t i o n could be used to better purpose in helping our own
Canadian boys in s e t t l i n g on the land; that they favor people coming of their
own accord rather than assisted i m m i g r a t i o n ; that oriental immigration should
be curtailed and more s t r i c t ly controlled, especially i n B r i t i s h Columbia where
it ha* become such a serious problem.
M r s . Scott, K i n s e l l a , says their most important work in immigration has
been encouraging and cheering those who have come during the last few
years and are feeling the stress of the present hard times, and she speaks of
the wonderfully courageous spirit shown by a l l . Most of the Institutes have
become L i n k s of Empire.
Sedgewick had a member of the Legislature address them on immigra­tion.
A l l newcomers have been befriended by Institute members or neigh­bor?.
Mrs. Scott finishes w i t h the wish that we may all endorse, " that ' ere
long conditions shall change and that Canada shall once more be able with
open arms to receive newcomers to her great domain."
R E P O R T OF C A N A D I A N IZ A T ION AND NATIONAL EVENTS
Mrs. F. G. Grevett, Calgary, Convener.
The work of this department has greatly increased this year, and a m a r k ed
interest has been shown by the branches throughout the province. Requests
have come from 143 Institutes for papers or material for same on C a n a d i a n -
i z a t i o n . This is v e r y encouraging, but unfortunately y o u r Convener is g r e a t ly
handicapped for suitable material to send out; then often when a good paper
is sent out, for some reason or other it is not returned. Many Institutes
report splendid papers given, and I have wondered if it would not be possible
to have these sent on to the Convener for use in her department. Two or
three Institutes have already done this, and their co- operation in this matter
has helped greatly to solve the problem, " what shall I send."