1924 - Annual Convention Report

              12 A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
One of t h e most p l e a s i n g a n d h e l p f u l features o f t h e whole C o n v e n t i o n was the
D e m o n s t r a t i o n of the M a k i n g of a K i m o n o D r e s s . This was p u t on b y t h e y o u ng
l a d i e s f r om the Olds S c h o o l of A g r i c u l t u r e w h o were the w i n n i n g t e am at t h e a g r i ­c
u l t u r a l contest i n W i n n i p e g . To see the d i s p a t c h w i t h w h i c h t h e whole process
was accomplished astonished more t h a n one delegate. The measurements were
t a k e n , p a t t e r n made, dress cut, fitted and made before the eyes of t h e C o n v e n t i op
i n a n i n c r e d i b l y s h o r t p e r i o d of t i m e . While t h i s was being done M i s s T i l l i e gave
a n address o n t h e e v o l u t i o n o f dress, choice of m a t e r i a l s , a n d care of d e l i c a t e colors.
I t was s h o w n a g a i n a n d a g a i n h o w a deft t o u c h b y a clever h a n d t r a n s f o r m e d a v e ry
o r d i n a r y garment i n t o a gown of m e r i t . This was a d i s t i n c t i n n o v a t i o n o n our
p r o g r am a n d a most h e l p f u l one.
A discussion of t h e W o m e n ' s I n s t i t u t e C o n s t i t u t i o n f o l l o w e d a n d on m o t i o n of
M r s . Stewart, seconded b y M r s . G r i f f i n , was a d o p t e d.
A t t h i s t i m e M r s . B e a u b i e r was m a d e the r e c i p i e n t of a b a s k e t of roses a n d M i ss
M a c m i l l a n was l i k e w i s e presented w i t h an armful of these fragrant blossoms in
t o k e n of t h e love a n d esteem i n w h i c h b o t h are h e l d b y the W o m e n ' s I n s t i t u te
members.
M r s . Rogers, the Secretary, resumed her w o r k at t h i s p o i n t a n d was also made
the p r o u d possessor of a " B u c k e t of roses."
A letter of t h a n k s for t h e flowers sent her, was read f r om M r s . M c C l u n g .
T h e discussion of r e s o l u t i o n s f o l l o w e d . A r e p o r t o n these appears o n page 64.
D u r i n g the m o r n i n g M i s s . Jean Y u i l l p l a y e d a n i n s t r u m e n t a l solo w h i c h was
m u c h enjoyed.
A F T E R N O O N SESSION, M A Y 3 0TH, 1924.
T h e afternoon session opened w i t h the s i n g i n g of " L a n d of H o p e a n d G l o r y ,"
M r s . M o n g o m e r y s i n g i n g t h e verses and the audience j o i n i n g i n the chorus. A
r o u n d table conference t o o k place o n several phases of I n s t i t u t e work. M a n y of
the delegates found t h i s most h e l p f u l as the more experienced members were g l ad
to pass o n m a n y useful suggestions.
M r s . R. B . G u n n was a v e r y welcome speaker, c o m i n g as she d i d w i t h c o r d i al
greetings f r om a sister o r g a n i z a t i o n , the U n i t e d F a r m W o m e n of A l b e r t a . In her
o w n b r i s k yet c h a r m i n g manner she spoke b r i e f l y of t h e p r o b l e m s of t h e b u s y f a rm
woman. " A l l t h e f a rm w o m a n needs is a weak m i n d a n d a s t r o n g b a c k , " was a
statement to which M r s . G u n n t o o k e x c e p t i o n . She a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e r e are times
w h e n she has considered t h a t the best s e t t l e r s were t h e peasant farmer w i t h his d u ll
but s t u r d y wife, people who were b r o u g h t up to w o r k b u t not to t h i n k . However
t h i s mood i n v a r i a b l y passes a n d she knows t h a t A l b e r t a needs the t h i n k i n g people
on the farms as m u c h as anywhere. The chief cause of a l l t h e unnecessary work
o n farms is due to l a c k of l a b o r s a v i n g devices. M r s . G u n n . p o i n t e d out h o w the
f a rm woman m a y a c q u i r e the necessary funds to o b t a i n these. This c a n o n l y be
done t h r o u g h c o - o p e r a t i v e m a r k e t i n g of p r o d u c e . The fact t h a t most f a rm produce
i s perishable makes the m a r k e t i n g a l l t h e more d i f f i c u l t but she believes t h i s c a n be
w o r k e d out so t h a t a f a i r average price w i l l be o b t a i n e d and a s t a n d a r d product
s o l d . She t o u c h e d l i g h t l y o n the w o r l d - w i d e p r o b l em of m e n t a l defectives, u r g i ng
careful t h o u g h t on t h i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t question. In c o n c l u s i o n M r s . G u n n urged
the women t o w o r k shoulder to s h o u l d e r f o r w o r l d peace.
M r s . W m . C a r s o n , C a l g a r y , t h e n addressed the C o n v e n t i o n o n t h e League of
N a t i o n s . See page 00.
M r s . Stavert, one of the two C a n a d i a n delegates to the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n ­ference
of the Suffrage A l l i a n c e i n R o m e , at M r s . B e a u b i e r ' s request, d e l i v e r ed
M r s . C a r r i e C h a p m a n C a t t ' s message o n " P e a c e " t o the delegates i n w h i c h she s a id
t h a t i f w o m e n a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d w o u l d s t a n d shoulder to shoulder, a b s o l u t e l y re­f
u s i n g to be m o v e d , no power o n e a r t h c o u l d m a k e w a r possible. " It is o n women's
s h o u l d e r s rests t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f w a r or p e a c e , " s a i d M i ' s . S t a v e r t .
A t five o ' c l o c k the s i n g i n g of the N a t i o n a l A n t h e m closed one of t h e happiest,
most helpful and w i t h a l most successful C o n v e n t i o n s i n o u r h i s t o r y.
R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d,
M A R I O N M . S. R O G E R S.