PAN-PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 235, 4 October 1937, Page 12

PAN-PACIFIC.

Election of New Zealand Committee.

A meeting was held at the Lyceum Club rooms on Saturday of the New Zealand delegates who attended the recent Pan-Pacific Women's Conference in Vancouver. In the absence of the president, Mrs. T. W. Taylor, the leader of the New Zealand delegation, Miss Elsie Andrews, of New Plymouth, presided. Reports of the various debates were presented. Miss F. Taylor, of Auckland, spoke on the adjustment of educational programmes for the changing social conditions, a subject which she had discussed at the conference. She reported to the association that the outcome of the discussions at the conference showed a general trend to increase the time of compulsory education, and also to give greater freedom to the methods used in the schools. Miss Taylor also described the research that had been done in New Zealand in this respect.

The formation of a reorganisation committee was reported by Miss Andrews, who said that it was set up as the result of a suggestion from New Zealand. The committee had accepted the suggestion that the topics chosen for discussion should not be concluded in one conference, but should be further carried on. At the next conference, which will be held in Wellington in 1940, a discussion will take place on the practical ways and means of promoting international understanding in the Pacific. This will include a study of the chief products of the Pacific countries, the geographical conditions which determine the preponderance of these products, the living conditions of those who produce the products, the dependence upon other countries for materials necessary for production and manufacture, the exchange of products between Pacific countries, the communication and means of distribution, and the advantages of the exchange of products.

The new president of the conference is Miss Mary Bollert. dean of the University of British Columbia, and the vice-presidents are: Mrs. Tsune Gauntlett (Japan), Miss Lo (China), Mrs. M. Beveridge (Australia), and Miss Lawson (United States). Miss Elsie Andrews, of Xew Plymouth, was appointed programme chairman.

The following officers were elected to the New Zealand committee:—Honorary president, Mrs. T. E. Taylor, 0.8. E. (Christchurch); chairman, Miss Elsie Andrews (Xew Plymouth); vice-chair-man, Mrs. C. C. Jackson (Wairarapa); secretary, Miss E. B. Lea (Auckland); treasurer, Miss F. E. Cooper (Christchurch) ; topic director, Miss Sullivan (Dtinedin), Press and publicity representative, Miss E. Griffin (Auckland); Committee members, Princess Te Puea Herangi (Ngaruawahia), Mrs. H. D. Bennett and Miss Amy Kane (Wellington), Mrs. Kenneth Gordon (Auckland).

Societies represented at the meeting included: The Women's Institutes, the Federated Women's Clubs, Women's Teachers' Association, Federation of University Women, Registered Nurses' Association, Y.W.C.A., Trained Nurses' Association, Dunedin Y.W.C.A., Women's Luncheon Club, Southland Women's Club, New Women's Club, Rotorua Women's Club, Otago Women's Club, and the Auckland Women Teachers' Association.