WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 75, 29 March 1934, Page 13

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

STOCKHOLM AND ENGLAND

NEW. ZEALAND DELEGATE

The members of tho Dominion Executive Committee took advantage of. the opportunity afforded by their meeting in Wellington.to.welcome Miss Jerome Spencer on her return to New Zealand by holding a luncheon pafty in her honour at the Pioneer Club.. After lunch, Miss Spencer (who was accompanied by Miss Large, of Hawke's Bay) was the guest at a reception in the club rooms. -...-■ .. . Among those present .were the president of the Dominion Federation, Mrs. H. Paterson, and the jnembers of the executive; Miss M. C. Maddever and executivej members of the Southern Wellington" Federation; Miss Amy Kane, president of the Pioneer Club; Mrs. Lundius, president of the Wellington/branch, W.D.F,U.; and the Misses Skinner and Fisher, visitors from England. '.'■.. ■ Both Miss Spencer and Miss Large were presented with dainty, bouquets by Mrs. Paterson, who expressed tho pleasure of the New Zealand, Women Institutes lit their return1 to the- Dominion. ■ ... Miss Spencer gave an interesting account of her visit to Stockholm as> New Zealand delegate to the conference of the International Countrywomen of the World, which she described its "of immense interest and where subjects were discussed which provided matter for thought and use for years to come." She spoke of her pleasure when the chairman, Mrs. Alfred Watt, in her opening remarks, made special reference to the fine work of Miss Large, who for the past five years, has beon New Zealand representative on theLiaison Committee. of the' Rural .Women's Organisation of the World— which has now become the "Associated Country Women'of the World. 5' "The Will to Peace" was the motto of the conference. One of the most remarkable features of the gathering was the atmosphere of complete harmony and willingness to adapt the diversepoints of view in order to attain a common end, stated Miss Spencer. The discussions were carriod on in English, Swedish, and German, with occasionally a French interpretation, but English was the principal language- used, since its study is compulsory in many Continental schools. Miss Spencer spoke enthusiastically of ; the hospitality of the Swedish people and of the friendly spirit ■which was everywhere encountered, laying particular stress on the value of the personal contact as engendered by such conferences, not only as it affected the individual, but'in its effect, oh her fellowcountry women, who would.be influenced by the/point'of view of her report. ■ Miss Largo gave a brief description of the work of.the Liaison Committee, accompanied by short but vivid word-sketches of outstanding personalities in the Women's Institute world. The thanks of all present were expressed to the speakers b.y Mrs. Paterson, Mrs. Mac Donald, and Miss Kane, all of -whom spoke of their realisation of the benefits of such a conference as .that at Stockholm and of the formation of the Associated Country Women of the World, as. giving country women a "definite place on the map." Miss Spencer will visit New Zealand j institutes and groups to give further details of her trip, and for this x>urpose lias brought back with her numerous photographs and also a lantern for [exhibiting them. -