PAN-PACIFIC CONFERENCE Miss Elsie Andrews.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 18

PAN-PACIFIC CONFERENCE

Miss Elsie Andrews.

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

Under the auspices of the Wellington branch of the National Council of Women a most successful meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Pioneer Club when representatives of the nineteen affiliations of the Wellington Council, and representatives of other unaffiliated societies as well, met to hear Miss Elsie Andrews speak on the subject of the Pan-Pacific Conference which will be held in Wellington in 1940, and of the part which it is hoped! that New Zealand women will take beforehand. Mrs. Dallard (Wellington) president of the N.C.W.) presided, and on the platform was Mrs. Peter Fraser, j and Miss A. Kane (presiden-t of the Pioneer Club). Mrs. Fraser expressed a warm welcome to Miss Andrews and wished her the greatest measure of success. It was a pleasure to hear her, and all felt' that they could learn a great deal from i

her, specially about the preparatory work. Miss Andrews expressed her pleasure at having such a crowded audience, as it showed that Wellington women meant to take the conference seriously as was right and fitting. She quoted Thomas Kempis who in one of his wise writings said that people should only speak of subjects which would edify, and she was sure the Pan-Pacific conferences were edifying and of the greatest value to women. "There is no easy way out- of ■■ the world's present tangle," said the speaker, 'fbut. >time^ care, and patience will have to be used to even get near the world problems, and these conferences are intended to bring women within knowledge of many of them." ♦Alluding to those people who did not realise the value of education, Miss Andrews said the progress of the world (came through education which brought wisdom —and the more of this the better. She was touring both islands to urge that people should study before the conference, for then it' would be a rich experience. It was most difficult for women here to come into contact with the world currents of thought— this had been realised in the last year's Educational Conference—for a need of the country was a touch with outward affairs. It was difficult to forecast yet

how many delegates would attend the conference, or from whence, for the affairs round the Pacific were in great confusion, specially in China and Japan, and the women from these two countries were among the most valuable who attended former conferences. "The trying time is the time to try" had been said by the Queen to Girl Guides at a great meeting, and she urged this little truth on women for the times were trying indeed. Miss Andrews received a most hearty vote of thanks proposed by Miss Kane and seconded by Lady Pomare. Miss Olga Burton sang charmingly, accompanied by Mrs. Keys.