Wants Women To Act On Vietnam

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30845, 2 September 1965, Page 2

Wants Women To Act On Vietnam

The National Council of Women of New Zealand wants a United Nations Exploratory Committee set up, consisting of women only, to negotiate for a peaceful settlement of the Vietnam war.

This was announced yesterday by the national president (Mrs Doreen Grant).

Mrs Grant is sending a request to the president of the International Council of Women, Mrs Mary Craig Schul-ler-McGeachy of New York, to give earnest consideration to the possibility of such a committee being formed as soon as possible.

If Mrs SchullerMcGeachy approves the request, it would be sent for consideration to the 59 countries which have national councils of women affiliated to the international body, Mrs Grant said.

“From replies received from the many New Zealand branches of N.C.W., which have considered this request, it is quite clear that women long for peace and good will towards all,” Mrs Grant said yesterday. “They abhor the misery, the senseless destruction and the appalling loss of life war brings in its train.” A number of women had expressed a keen desire to do something practical to help the women in South Vietnam, she said. "They said it would ease their own consciences, when they had so much themselves, to ‘give until it hurts' so that their money could at least help to ease the physical suffering of women in war-torn South Vietnam.

Appeal Fund

“This is a time when great things must be dared in

faith,” Mrs Grant said. “Therefore, I, as a woman, appeal to the women of New Zealand to give from their plenty to prove they are prepared to act themselves and not merely salve their consciences by asking others to take action and do the work.” Just 42 years ago the women of New Zealand, in their concern for the preservation of peace and in support of the League of Nations, sent out

another message to the women of the world.

“Honour The Trust”

In September, 1923, the N.C.W. of New Zealand dispatched the following message from its Dominion conference in Auckland: “The National Council of Women of New Zealand, in conference assembled at Auckland, September 18, 1923, most solemnly urge their sister women in every contry to use their utmost strength and influence to induce their Governments. statesmen and citizens to support the League of Nations so that it may become the perfect instrument for the preservation of peace among the nations of the earth. Women of the world: In your hands you hold the destiny of mankind. Honour the trust!” Lady Aberdeen, president of the International Council of Women- with 36 nations then affiliated, sent out a message which read: “Triumph of principles of the League alone stands between the world and extermination. We call on all public-spirited citizens to support the Covenant.” Now, in September, 1965, after another world war and the operation of the United Nations for 20 years, the message from the N.C.W. conference in 1923 could go out again today almost word for word, said Mrs Grant.

VIETNAM APPEAL

Contributions for the appeal Mrs Grant, has launched to help the women of Vietnam should be sent to:—The North Canterbury Centre, New Zealand Red Cross Society, 33 Cashel street, Christchurch 1. They should be clearly marked: “For South Vietnamese Women.”