PACIFIC AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 155, 28 March 1932, Page 9

PACIFIC AFFAIRS

N.Z. Women’s Association COMMITTEE MEETS Work of Annual Conference The first annual meeting of the New Zealand National Committee of the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association was held at the Y.W.C.A. Hall In Wellington on Saturday afternoon. The delegates were entertained at luncheon at the Pioneer Club, and in the evening were the guests of the Lyceum Club at tea. Among those present at the meeting were Mrs. T. E. Taylor (chairman), Misses M. E. Sims, A. Kane, and E. Andrews (executive), Mrs. H. D. Bennett, Misses Laiubie, Basten, Melville, Salmond (conveners of research committees), Dr. Agnes Bennett (representing the Federation of University Women), Misses Stevenson and E. Fair (Y.W.C.A.), Miss Lea (New Zealand • Women Teachers’ Association), Dr. Helen Bakewell (New Zealand Medical Women's Association), Miss Mary Lambie (New . Zealand Trained Nurses’ Association), Mrs. H. G. Smith and Miss Kane (Federated Women’s Clubs), Mesdames Wood and Peryman (W.C.T.U.), Mesdames Wyckham and Wilson (Women’s Division. Farmers’ Union), Miss A. G. Basten 1 (Auckland Hospital Auxiliary), Mrs. Eggers (Mothers’ Thought Guild), Miss M. Salmond (Otago University Women), also the following visitors, Miss Carnachan (president National Council of Women), Miss Cossey, Mrs. Goffe, Miss Rainforth, Mrs. Flesher (Christchurch), Mrs. Pearson (Y.W.C.A.), Miss Lovell-Smith. Mrs. Taylor welcomed the delegates, saying it gave the officers and executive much pleasure to welcome them to this the first annual meeting of the New Zealand National Committee of the Pan-Pacific ’Women’s Association. Address by Mrs. Taylor. “We have come together,” said Mrs. Taylor, “in the hope and expectation that something very worth while will emerge from our meeting. The contact and clash of mind with mind, of group interests with one another, the pooling of experiences and difficulties, will surely help us all to see and follow through the content of the programme sections and will enable us to take up the work with purpose and understanding. “The absence of a definite programme has until just recently somewhat handicapped the conveners and groups doing sectional research work; this, however, is now remedied, as the final draft of the programme is with us. While waiting for this, however, exceedingly valuable work has been done; conveners and committees for all sections have been formed, some have already done preparatory research, and with the arrival of the programme and the names of international project directors preparation should go ahead rapidly and intensively. “The secretary’s report shows what a large amount of work she has done in building up the structure of the association in New Zealand; it is really quite wonderful that so much has been accomplished in the short space of one year. Much overseas correspondence has taken place. Miss Sims, as national research director, and as a member of the international programme committee, has been kept busy in this direction, while your chairwoman has been in constant correspondence with Dr. Georgina Sweet. Pan-Pacific president, with the Honolulu committee, and -with various other overseas correspondents. Truth and Justice.

“There are perhaps times when we are tempted to under-value our aims and ideals, times when we are tempted to think that world movements for peace and individual efforts for the same are still a very long way from realisation, and that our small attempts do not add much to the sum total of progress peaceward. Recent happenings in the Orient may for an unguarded moment seem to have justified that attitude. It is not, however, for pioneers in a great reform to allow pessimism to dim their vision at the first apparent setback. The case for world peace through understanding and goodwill is founded on Truth and Justice, scientific, economic, moral and ethical truth, and our enthusiasm must be as wide and deep and lasting as truth. "Small as our efforts may seem. _ it is oulv through the vision and conviction of the individual that the nation, anv nation, can find a voice, and we as New Zealand women have a Godgiven commission to do our part, however small, and through this group ot the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association we may do it. We have a conti ibution to make to the culture, the government. and the sociology of the Pacific and the Orient that no one but ourselves can make. We have much to learn from'our sisters on both sides of the Pacific, and in giving and taking through international study and research, before and at the conferences, we shall most assuredly pave the way among the makers of men, for that material and spiritual understanding without which peace and disarmament are impossible. “The women of the world have never been so intensely set upon securing a basis for this understanding. Elizabeth Green, editor of ‘Pacific Affairs, the organ of the Institute of Pacific Relations, in an article in the December •issue written on her way home from the China conference, has tins to saj . ‘A group of leading women intellectuals (in Japan) has conic together for regular discussion of the Manchurian problem iu all its phases. I’at'ticulariy endeavouring to understand the Chinese attitude and interests and to make contact with women leaders m China toward that end. One of the foremost scholars of the country, long at the forefront of the nation’s intellectual life is carrying out an arduous course of public lectures stressing faith in and adherence to the League of ± . tions over a period when r ' e ‘!” n ° ‘'V 1 . tudes have not been popular m official circles in Japan.’ "We Must Not Be Apathetic.” “Then we have the deputation of Japanese feminist leaders to the Chinese leaders, the All-Asiau Womens Conference with its whole emphasis on peace, and the Y.W.C.A. of China seekin” some way out, through womens organisations in America and Europe, and hoping ever for peace through the intervention of the League and the implementation of moral justice. Add to this all that the women of the western world are doing for disarmament, and surely, even if the materialisation of our ideal is slow in comii g, we must not be apathetic or pessimistic. Three thousand years of arbitrament by war cannot be overthrown in a generation. But we must always remember Dr. Marie 'Elizabeth Luders tells us that ‘ln the life of a people just as much as iu the life of each individual, not

the material forces, but the moral impulses are the decisive factor. On these moral forces we build our hope in the combat which we are pursuing for the victory of peace—women cannot want to let'their country, their people, succumb in this crisis of lack of faith, of meanness, of fear, from which the world is suffering. Our common will must go exclusively toward making by means of our faith and our political possibilities, the law that shall will a new world. That is the pledge which —dispersed all over the jvorld as we are —but closely united by common ideals and common will, we have solemnly made to ourselves. Our common work would lose all its value if in this struggle we should renounce out ideals. But it is a struggle that will be won. and we will have our share in the victory that will free the world ot fear and' of suspicion of despair, and hatred. In this faith we cannot bo deceived.’ " . On the motion of Miss Kane, seconded by Miss Melville, a vote of thanks to Mrs. Taylor for her address was carried by acclamation.