Value Of International Contacts Emphasised

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 2

Value Of International Contacts Emphasised

The value of International contacts made by attending the conference of the International Federation of University Women, followed by a quick world tour, was emphasised by Mrs H. D. Purves, Dominion president of the New Zealand federation, at a recent meeting of the Canterbury branch.

The New Zealand federation sent its president to the

international conference in Mexico City last year for the first time. Mrs Purves is dow on a tour of Dominion branches of the federation to give reports on the conference.

Business meetings dealt

with reports from standing committees and resolutions, which included dttacunsions on discrimination against married women working, and on refugee work, particularly relief work, in Hong Kong. “The federation is becoming much more worldminded,” said Mrs Purves. “When communications were difficult, it centred on Europe and the United States. Now women of many nationalities are on the executive, as wider horizons are recognised.” Delegates were given many opportunities to study Mexican culture, history and crafts. Mrs Purves was particularly interested in the Mexican folklore ballet she saw, which told the history of the country through dancing. “Veneer of Culture” "Mexico has a veneer of culture over a rather primitive people, most of whom are still very backward,” she said. U.N.E.S.C.O. bad become interested in the country and illiteracy bad been reduced considerably. Theoretically, education was compulsory, but there was a serious shortage of teachers. There stiU seemed to be a certain amount of prejudice in ordinary Mexican families against university education. Only 20 per cent, of the student population were women. Nevertheless, Mexico bad many eminent women who reached the top of their professions, she said. After the conference Mrs Purves visited many other countries meeting more branch members of the federation. At the buffet tea meeting tn Christchurch, Mrs Purves also showed films taken durini the conference in Mexico ant in other countries she visited. Mrs Purves, who lives in Dunedin, is a teacher of languages at Otago Boys' High School.