WOMEN’S CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25735, 22 February 1949, Page 2

WOMEN’S CLUB

ADDRESSES BY VISITORS TO CONGRESS

“There is no peace in a hungry world; we must train ourselves in the good use of the land; we must take care of the land so that it may nourish our children and we must realise that the health of the world depends on the health of the land,” said Mrs R. C. Murphy, when she addressed memr bers of the Canterbury Women’s Club yesterday on the conservation of national resources.

Food, she said, was the historical province of women and the supply of food depended on the conservation of the soil. “You have the same problems here as we have in America,” she said; “we have all sinned in wasting our resources, and your problem must be solved, if you are to continue to serve five or six njeals a day, as seems to be the custom in New Zealand to-day.”

She considered that women could do much to help the human race if they kept their minds open and studied the balance of nature. She reminded her hearers that the larger proportion of the world's population to-day was either hungry or undernourished. Plea for Tolerance “If everyone could travel, there would never be any war,” said Professor Carey Miller, of the University of Honolulu, the second speaker. Dr. Miller made an appeal for tolerance towards all racial groups and said that when people of different nationalities met, better understanding and friendships were established.

“I do think in Hawaii we have achieved a situation that is admirable in having good feeling amongst racial groups,” she said. She explained that in Hawaii there were many residents of Oriental ancestry, but all children born there, even if they were pure Chinese or Japanese, were American citizens. Many Orientals —from China, Korea, Japan, and later from the Philippines-had gone to Hawaii to work in the plantations, but later took up other occupations. Members of these various nationalities lived happily together. There was no race prejudice and Hawaii was proud of the fact that during the war the Japanese population was not interned. The authorities felt that the great majority could be trusted and so it proved, as there was no sabotage. Dr. Miller deplored the attitude of those who treated-Orientals as if they were inferior beings. She said that women could do much to break down racial prejudice. Before the addresses, pianoforte solos were played by Mrs StanleyFogg, and songs were sung by Mrs Cara Cogswell, for whom Miss K. O’Connor was accompanist. The president of the club (Mrs G. H. Watts) welcomed the guests of honour—the wives of delegates who are attending the Pacific Science Congress.