N.Z. FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18681, 3 May 1926, Page 2

N.Z. FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

A meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Federation was held in the CanI terbury College Hall on Friday evenI ing. about fifty members being present. I The secretary was instructed to conI vey the congratulations of the Association to Miss Olive Rowe, M.A., the I first winner of the Sir William Hartley i scholarship. The president, Miss Candy, then I gave a report of the conference held at Dunedin at Easter. As the main aim of the Federation I is to promote sympathy and underI standing among the University women of the world conferences play an important part, and the first work i dealt with at Dunedin was the report of the New Zealand delegates to the International Conference at Christiania. New Zealand was represented by Miss Cameron, of the bacteriology department of the Otago Medical School, and by Dr. Githa Chapman, of Wellington. The delegates, who were everywhere treated with lavish hospitality; were much impressed by the importance attached to the conference. The Christiania daily papers devoted to it a whole front page, printed in English. The presidents of the Federation in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland each gave an addrgss of welcome, the Swedish president speaking in four languages. Other notable speakers who addressed the conference' were Dr. Nansen, Lady Rhondda, and Mrs Corbet Ashby; while messages of understanding and sympathy were received from Mr Ramsay Mac Donald, Mr Hughes, of America, and Lady Astor. One of the most interesting discussions was that on an international language, anQ a committee was set up to report to the next conference at Amsterdam. It was interesting to note, however, that at a social function, where there were thirty delegates present, representing about twenty, different countries, practically every one made an informal speech, and all except one, spoke in English. The delegates were entertained by the King and Queen of Norway, and, later, when the executive visited Brussels, they were accorded a reception by the King and Queen of Belguim. The International Federation allows only one national federation from each country, and it was noteworthy that, even in countries which have lately been disturbed by internal troubles, the women had laid aside their national difficulties and linked together in one national federation. • Other work done at the Dunedin conference was the discussion of remits. (1) It was decided to establishlife membership, the fee being £4 4s. (2) To admit as associate members (a) all those who have pursued a course of two, years' study at a University ; (b) others, in sympathy with University work, who have the unanimous approval of both the local executive and of headquarters. (3) To separate national and international work by setting up a committee of international relations, consisting of a representative from each centre and. a chairman who for the next two years should be in Dunedin. , The conference then prooeeded to deal with the activities for the year. The following motion was Carried:' "That this Federation of University Women undertakes the investigation of the condition of the' Indian girls in Fiji, of whom there are 12,000 under the age of 16 for whom little provision is made in the matter of education." It was also decided to send a cable to Lady Astor supporting her in her request that a woman educationist he included in the Commission .appointed to investigate the conditions of Indian women and children in Fiji. The Christchureh branch was asked to undertake this investigation. Wellington undertook to make investigations as to the percentage <of girls leaving secondary schools who continue their education at a University, while the Auckland branch was asked to investigate the subject of establishing a junior federation in schools. This concluded the president's report. A short speech was made by Miss Hewitt, of Walthamstow, who is travelling in the Dominion. Notice of ten Fellowships was received from headquarters. Eight scholarships for graduates giving free board, residence, and tuition, are given nach year by Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania. Notice of. two, research scholarship—the Jen Blake Research Studentship and the G. M. Gardner Graduate Scholarship for Historical Research, both tenable at Girton College—was also given. A preliminary notice of 1 the" forthcoming International Conference at Amsterdam was also rbad. An election of officers to fill certain positions, arising from the conference at Dunedin then took place. The members of the Hospitality Committee were Mrs W. H. Clark (foreign i hostess), Miss L Taylor, and Miss 1., i Milnes. The hon." secretary, Mrs B. C. Penney, was appointed the Can- ' terbury member to the Dominion Exes \ cutive at Auckland, and also the Canterbury member on the Committee of Internationa] Relations, the chairwoman being Mrs Benson, of Dunedin. The membershin committee elected i was Mrs Broadhead, Miss Seymour, , and Miss Tosswill. i i