Federation s Aid To University Women

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 2

Federation s Aid To University Women

University women who have become refugees are given practical assistance by the International Federation of University Women. Where funds are available from donations by members of the federation, university-trained refugee women are being re-established in their professions, enabled to enter a university in the free world, given hospital care, and every possible assistance in rehabilitation.

The programme was described in Christchurch yesterday by the president of the International Federation of University Women, Dr. M. E. Cameron, who is in New Zealand to attend the triennial conference of the New' Zealand federation at Victoria University next week.

Instituted by the Committee of Relief in Europe, the work began among refugees from the Communist regime, who would be assisted to positions or universities in Western Europe. It was now extended to Hong Kong ami the Far East, and was spreading to many parts of the world. Dr. Cameron said. The Committee of Relief was comprised mostly of Swiss women, who were suitable for the work because of Switzerland s neutrality, and the ease with which money coming from many sources could be handled there. One of the most important aspects was psychologicalshowing the refugee women that other university women cared for them as human beings. Personal interest would be taken in all cases, even if it was not possible to render practical aid, she said. Fellowships Offered The refugee programme is only one undertaken by the federation at international level. Dr. Cameron also described the fellowships programme, in which fellowships of about £BOO each were awarded graduates for advanced research abroad, in the recipient's own specialist field. Run on a competitive basis, the fellowships, were awarded on nominations from national federations to the parent body, which would compare the applications. The federation ran a fund from which smaller grants were made to individuals whose work could be hampered by lack of finance—for example if a woman was writing a book she could be given a grant to enable her to have the script typed. These grants could average £5O or £lOO. Further study grants were awarded women from Asia and Latin America, so that by study abroad they could attain valuable professional qualifications which were not available in their own countries. National federations also raised funds for grants to be made at national level. The importance of this work was to offset the situation in most countries, whereby most university fellowships were awarded to men. Dr. Cameron said. It was a step in giving women higher education and an equally competitive footing. Work With U.N. Affiliation with some United Nations bodies was another aspect of the federation that Dr. Cameron discussed. The federation received agendas from U.NKS.C.O., and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Any relevant matters would be circulated among the member bodies, and requests made for information on the situation in their own countries, com-

ments and suggestions. At meetings of the United Nations committees concerned, federation representatives would be entitled to make statements and present their views. The federation was continually expanding. Dr. Cameron said. It included 31 member countries eight years ago, and there were now 51. i

The 20 new federations were mostly in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, indicating present developments in those places. It showed that their university women wanted to advance their status, compare notes with their counterparts all over the world, and take their

place as university women on an equal footing with those in Western countries, Dr. Cameron said. Hong Kong, Burma, and Uganda, were the latest members to join. “The Asian federations are apt to be quite extraordinary,” Dr. Cameron said. “Their members are very versatile, and many hold prominent positions in public life and move ahead very quickly.” Indian Woman Leader An example was the president of the Indian federation, Mrs L. Menon, who is India’s deputy Foreign Minister. She will attend the Wellington conference. Dr. Cameron, who holds a Ph.D., is academic dean and professor of history at Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley. Massachusetts. At the Australian Federation of University Women conference in Perth, recently, she was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. She has held office as president of the federation since 1959, when she was elected at the conference held in Helsinki. It is a threeyear appointment. Although most of Dr. Cameron’s work is done by correspondence, as the federation’s headquarters are in London, she tries to visit as many of the federations as possible. This is her first visit to New Zealand, and she will be here about 10 days visiting federation branches before attending the conference. Dinner For Dr. Cameron Dr. M. E. Cameron, president of the International Federation of University Women, spoke about the federation at a dinner held in her honour at Elizabeth House last evening, by the Canterbury branch or the New Zealand Federation of University Women. Among the guests were the president of the Otago branch (Mrs H. D. Purves); two members of the Timaru branch CMesdames J. W. Stockwell and J. M. Fraser) and an Australian visitor, Miss J. Hatfield, who will attend the triennial conference of the New Zealand federation at Wellington next week. About 50 attended the dinner, and guests were welcomed by Mesdames C. H. Perkins and B. J. Drake, vice-president of the Canterbury branch. Dr. Cameron will leave for Nelson this morning.

Gas-Pipe Explosion.— Eight persons were reported killed and another four injured today in a natural gas pipeline explosion near Edson, 120 miles west of Edmonton. —Edmonton (Alberta). January 16.