TURKISH WOMEN

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21578, 14 September 1935, Page 25

TURKISH WOMEN

RAPID EMANCIPATION ,

NEW ZEALAND VISITORS IMPRESSIONS

[THE PEESS Special Serolce.]

AUCKLAND, September 13,

The emancipation of the women of Turkey in recent years was discussed by Miss A. G. Kane, of Wellington, who arrived at Auckland by the Mataroa from London to-night. Miss Kane represented the New Zealand committee of the Women's International Alliance at the conference of the alliance held recently at Istamboul. The conference was attended by women from many countries, including Turkey, Palestine, the Balkan States, and Parsia.

"It was very interesting to see the degree of emancipation of Turkish women," said Miss Kane. "It has all been effected within about 10 years. Although Kemal Pasha is dictator he appears to be a humane dictator. He is tremendously patriotic and is trying to give his country a place among the countries of Europe. "In Turkey now there- is free education right from the primary school to the university. Turkish women have not been uneducated in the past, but now they are able to respond to Western influence/ and are doing so in a l remarkable fashion. They have 17 women in their parliament and others are doctors and lawyers. "After the conference some, of: the delegates were taken to Angora and shown the modern town on the old site. In the district is a model farm owned by Kemal Pasha, where he is experimenting with up-to-date methods. There is also a very fine agricultural college, to which students are admitted free. These students at present comprise about 60 young men and 20 women. The course lasts for two years, the last "six months being spent by the students on farms, where they are able to gain agricultural experience and at the same time to spread knowledge of modern methods among the farming community/'