Letter to AWI members from Convener of Legislation

Source: AWI Collection

Transcript: Vulcan, Alberta,
February 1st, 1934,
To the Members of the Alberta Women's Institutes.
Dear Fellow Workers:
Nothing of so much importance comes before the Women's In­stitutes
to- day as Legislation, the Institute itself is organized
and operates under an Act of Parliament, and If this Act were not
suitable it would destroy the aims and objects of our organization,
the necessity for amending the Act would be apparent to all.
Is it not possible that our present unsatisfactory conditions
may be due to some weakness in our legislation?
In our outline on Legislation we have asked you to make a
study of " The School Act." Does it suit western conditions? Is it
fitting our boys and girls for present day requirements, or is the
whole thing copied from densely settled eastern provinces with courses
that suited the conditions of a generation or two past? Debates, dis­cussions
and papers dealing with our " School Act" as bearing on these
and other points should be both interesting and instructive.
The Department of Education, Edmonton, will send you a copy
of " The School Act" and also a pamphlet by Hon. Perren Baker on " Rural
Education in Alberta".
The subject that is absorbing world wide attention to- day is
the question of finance, particularly is this so In Canada where the
" Bank Act" will be up for revision this year, as this will not be up
again for ten years, it is Imperative that we take immediate action to
present our views regarding any amendments we consider necessary.
The payment of Interest has become a burden; we have no Cen­tral
bank; systems of social credit are being offered; the Canadian
banks have a monoply of credit; the gold standard has been suspendedj
the future of our home and country is so vitally concerned with these
facts that every effort should be made to study them and take our
stand as well informed citizens. If we fail to inform ourselves on
such momentous questions how can we expect to cast an intelligent vote?
For copies of " The Bank Act" and " The Finance Act" apply to
your federal member at Ottawa.
" The Conquest of Poverty" by G. G. McGeer, Vancouver, is a
worth while study of National Finance. The Extension Department of
the University of Alberta, Edmonton, has good material on any of these
s\ ib jects.
I trust you will find much pleasure and profit from the
study of these questions.
Yours truly,
( Mrs. D. W) Anna P. Galbraith,
Convener of Legislation.