“WOMEN OF OTHER LANDS”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 19

“WOMEN OF OTHER LANDS”

First Social Meeting of E.S.U. The English Speaking Union held their first social afternoon of the year In the Mezzanine Rooms, Dominion Farmers’ Institute, yesterday. Miss Amy Kane was the speaker. Mr. and Miss Oldfield, London, and Miss Dunne, New York, were guests of honour. Mrs. E. D. Good read the creed, and Mrs. D. U. Claridge, chairwoman, welcomed Miss Kane, who is a member of the E.S.U. Miss Kane chose a subject of particular interest for her talk, and she bad much to tell of the woman of other countries whom she met at the World Conference of Women held at Istanbul, Turkey, last year, of which she was New Zealand delegate.

As Miss Kane had told all about the conference in a previous talk, she confined herself to sketches of the types of women she met there and outlined conditions in the country of each one. She met many types, and spoke particularly of the Turkish women, who have made tremendous progress in the last twelve years and who impressed her with their culture and, in many cases, high education. Among others she met at the conference were two Egyptian women, one a Moslem of high ' cast, who was leading her fellowwomen in unveiling, which was as yet not compulsory in Egypt, and a Christian Copt woman, who had decided views of her own which she expounded at all times and places. Among the American delegates Miss Kane felt especially at home, and she went on several sight-seeing expeditions with them. On one occasion she was asked to a dinner which the American delegates gave for Lady Aston, who was in Istanbul for a brief visit to the conference. The dinner was held at a Turkish restaurant, and the people there were so very interested in strangers in their midst, that finally, Miss Kane said, they found themselves iu conversation with all the different types that frequented the restaurant. Altogether, she found the Turkish people most friendly and interesting. Among other women Miss Kane met were delegates from Syria and most of the Eastern European countries. As a concluding tribute to women, Miss Kane praised the president of the conference, Mrs. Ashby, an English woman of very great moment, who, although very modest, was “one of the most thinking women for women? in the world to-day. Mr. Oldfield, who is a member of the London English Speaking Union hos-

pitality committee, gave an outline of tho foundation and tho aims of tho union, and spoke also of tho great hospitality which had been extended to Miss Oldfield and himself during their visit to New Zealand. He was very impressed with the way in which everybody they met had been willing and happy to help them, and expressed his appreciation. During tho afternoon Mrs. Hoy Clarke (accompanied by Mrs. McCracken) and Mrs. Israel (accompanied by Miss D. Mills) gave solos, and Miss Chisholm was heard in a recitation. The hostesses for the afternoon wore Mrs. J. K. Preston and Mrs. J. Bennie, assisted by Miss Bretta Holm, Mrs. C. A. Gordon and Miss Gyles. Those of the committee who arranged the afternoon and helped were Mesdames W. Duncan, A. Burnard, E. D. Good, Hay MacKenzie, M. Phelan and Miss E. M. Black. Among those present were Mesdames 11. J. Rule, G. Nannestqad, L. Martin, T. Laidlow Wilson, 0. E. Hood, J. Abernethy, M. Tanner, wise, C. E. Wheeler, E. Sanderson, AV. 11. Fisher, M. S. Turner, S. M. Vosseler, Cbarlesworth, 8. Brown, E. Luke, F. L. Garland, A. S. Patterson, J, AV. McDonald, A. M. Garrard, J. H. Starr (Hobart), R, M. MacDonald, AV. Simpson, Cashmore, Nichols, A. L. Hill, McElla (Palmerston North), A. Stanaway, AVallace, Rowe, O. D, Rowe, C. Butler, H. Scott, AV. Schuch, F. Lonsdale, S. C. Eaton, Harry Atkinson, AV. Strouts, A. Burnard, M. G. Phelan, N. L. Thompson, D. E. Perrett, Misses T. K. Palmer, Schramm, Dawson, R. E. Van Staveren.