1937 - Convention Report

              - is ALBERTA WOMEN'S INSTITUTES
The Alberta Credit House Act. This Act provides for the setting up of a
separate body corporate to be known as Alberta Credit House. The function of
the credit is to provide dividends to such extent as authorized by the Lieut. -
Governor in Council, to receive deposits of Alberta credit, vouchers and transfers
of Alberta credit, and to receive currency in all kinds of negotiable instruments
from any person, and to convert the same into Alberta credit.
The Act also authorizes the Credit House to make certain loans.
The Ultimate Purchasers' Tax Act provides for the payment of a tax of 2%
by the purchaser of any commodity which is purchased by him for his own use
or for any purpose other than the resale thereof. No tax is payable when the
price of purchase is below 15c. The duty of collecting and remitting the tax
is imposed upon the vendor. Various other Acts which might be termed Social
Credit legislation, such as the Licensing of Trades and Business Act, Trades­men's
Qualification Act, Social Credit Measures Act, are on the statutes.
Demise of the Crown Act provides that the holding of any office under the
Crown in the right of the Province, and the right or capacity to follow any
profession or calling, shall not be affected by the demise of the Crown; and
declares that upon the demise of the Crown it shall not be necessary for any
person to take a new oath in respect to such office, profession or calling.
A new provision in the Mothers' Allowance Act is made requiring a woman
in receipt of a mother's allowance to reside within the boundaries of the
municipality liable for the payment of a portion of the allowance.
A married woman who, by an order of a District Court Judge, is declared
to have been deserted without reasonable cause by her husband for a continuous
period of five years or upwards immediately preceding the date of such an order,
is included in the definition of widow for the purposes of the Act.
Legislation must of necessity change from time to time to keep abreast with
changing conditions, nevertheless legislation must at all times keep true to
certain basic principals, which might be summed up as the doctrine of Christianity.
The reports of the work done by the Institutes are very encouraging; the
interest in the subject seems to be increasing. One Convener suggests that at
the rate at which legislation is put through more than one meeting will be required
to study it.
The practice of inviting a M. L. A. or lawyer to address a meeting has been
growing. Some such meetings were open to the public and helped to arouse
interest in the W. I. work as well as in the subject taken up. Many Institutes
spoke of the kindness of Mrs. Ferguson in speaking to them on this subject and
of the great help given.
The Red Deer West Constituency is aiming to have 100% on work of Stand­ing
Committees. Out of all Instiutes, two were down one subject; a remarkable
showing.
Boyce Convener on Legislation reads a short report each month covering
new items on the subject gleaned from the press.
Daysland reports strict parliamentary procedure at their meeting. This is
excellent. I heard of a meeting ( not the W. I.) which, owing to the lack of anyone
being present who knew how to conduct a meeting, was unable to proceed.
Edmonton had short talks on parliamentary procedure at each meeting,
dealing with motions and amendments, and showing how to make a motion and
an amendment, and how to deal with each.
It is well for our women to make these studies so as to be in a better position
to cast an intelligent vote. Day by day we see greater responsibilities thrown on
governments, and day by clay we must fit ourselves to play our parts as demo­cratic
citizens.