Y.W.C.A

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 15

Y.W.C.A

DOMINION CONFERENCE

GIRL CITIZENS

This week's programme for the Y.W.C.A. Girl Citizen Dominion Conference at Auckland has included many interesting events. Teams from the various delegations, who had adopted different nationalities, competed in an Olympic sports meeting and the laurels of the day were finally won by Italy (Dunedin) after a close contest in which France (Auckland) was the runner-up. At the conclusion of the sports Greek legends and dances were performed in a natural setting. In portraying the theme of the conference, "Under Heaven One Family." a.good deal of dramatic.work has been done, and a competition was run for the best interpretation of this thought. Tableaux yivants and stories from the art and literature of the different countries were also arranged by the girls. Ah interesting talk was ■ given by Miss Joan Stevenson (national general secretary of the Y.W.C.A.), who has recently returned from the . World's Council of Y.W.C.A. in' Geneva. She gave an account of some of the outstanding delegates to the council, and also described what-she had seen of clubs for younger, girls in Holland and Ceylon, where she had studied the activities of the association.

Miss Nessie Moncrieff > (of the Y.W.C.A., Peiping) described some aspects of the: association's work amongst women and girls in China, in helping them to obtain education; both through establishing rural educational centres and also helping many of the hundreds who flock to the schools and colleges of

Peiping to choose their courses of study.

The conference has, given earnest; consideration to the matters placed before it, and it has been generally felt that its findings will result in.-further-: ing the progress of the movement.

The visitors have been taken on several tramps and excursions, including a launch and a bus picnic, and the. conference, closed in time, to allow southern delegates to do some sight-see-ing in Auckland itself before the departure of their trains. <

:On. Sunday, January-27, Miss A. M; Bentham gave an address on Mathilda^ Wrede, a pioneer of prisoners-aid work] in Finland, and described her life work.'i

The League of Nations Assembly; was,the model for the open-air ban-: quet; arranged on Wednesday evening at which appropriate toasts were hon--oured and the'songs 6f many nations sung. The traditionalr gii-lv citizen; candle-lighting ceremony .was.the. offi-i cial/ closing of the conference. People! of all races, colours or creeds were re--membered, while-from the central; candle five smaller candles were kin-; died to represent the five'eontinents of: the world, and the address given toyi Miss Nessie ' Moncrieff. was based^onthe well-known culminating words, of;; the Girl Citizen code, "Love is the Ful-;! filling of the Law." ' ;