INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25177, 7 May 1947, Page 2

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

ADDRESS BY . NZ. DELEGATE

“UNITED NATIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED ”

■ **One method of helping the women of other countries would be for us to study thoroughly our legislation, report any weaknesses, and send the results of pur study overseas, and so help others to avoid our mistakes, as well as’’ to benefit by our successes.” said Miss Joan Rattray, one of the three New Zealand delegates who attended the International Women’s Conference in the United States, in an address to members of the Timaru League of Mothers and the South Canterbury branch of the National Council of Women. - , Miss Rcfttray said it had been a great education to meet women of every nationality, colour, and creed. From some countries, where the standard of living was very low, and women had no rights at all, had come some of the outstanding delegates. She had been particularly impressed with the high standard of culture and ability among the women of the coloured races. All had emphasised the need in every walk of life of trained practical women who had had experience, and knew what they were working for. Practically the only resolution passed by the conference, Miss Rattray continued, had been one dealing with the need for all delegates to return, to their own countries to tell their women that the United Nations must be supported at all costs if future wars were to be prevented. Miss Rattray emphasised the interest which had been taken by all delegates to the conference in New Zealand’s social legislation. and welfare work generally. One aspect of the work of the United Nations—the Food and Agricultural Organisation—was of special interest to women. That organisation was striving to find ways and means to store surplus food instead of destrdying it, so that it might be ready to be used in times of emergency, thus preventing famine in any part of the world. Women should study the question of production here in New Zealand, and strive to find the reasons for shortages of eggs, fruit, and milk. With fruit rotting on the ground in Norfolk Island, only 300 miles away, New Zealand was constantly short of oranges, pineapples, and She felt the three big questions especially affecting women in New Zealand to-day were:—(l) food production and distribution; (2) immigration; and (3) the closing of maternity homes all of which came back to the question of labour. All those questions, Miss Rattray concluded, concerned the women of the country vitally, and they wanted the interest and the enthusiasm of the younger wWn to help to solve them.