Y.W.C.A. WORK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16479, 19 February 1914, Page 9

Y.W.C.A. WORK.

THE CONFERENCE AT DIAMOND

HARBOUR. [Pxn Press Association.]

I. WELLINGTON, February 18. Some interesting details of the big conference work that, lies before the Young "Women's Christian Association was-given to a reporter to-day by Miss Helen F. Barnes, M.A.,, national secretary of the Association, who arrived from Sydney by the Ulimaroa. Miss Barnes" said that the work of the Young Women's Christian Association had grown to huge proportions, and she praised the Australasian women who are helping in the practical wofk or the Association. "After all, she said, "what we do or try to do is practical Christianity. The main object before us all the time is. to keep girls straight. It is not rescue work, it is an endeavour to put girls from everv kind of home on to the right path in life. It applies to all classes, to girls from good homes and to these from lowly ones. It is an uplifting work, with the thought all the time of improving the race." Miss Barnes mentioned that during the last few months several conferences of the Association had been held in various parts of Australia. At these valuable work had been done Die New Zealand conference, which Miss Barnes has come over to attend, is to be held at Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton, and will last from February 20 to March 1. There will be about fifty delegates present and a long programme of profitable discussions and reports has been arranged. But the most important conference will be one to be held at Stockholm, which will last from Juno 10 till June 18. There will be thirty-four nations represented, explained ' Miss Barnes, and the deleeates will include representatives from Japan, China, India, Finland, Iceland, Spain. Portugal and Russia. Australasia will be represented by eighteen delegates, five of whom are to be from Now' Zealand. These will be Mrs C. A. Whitney and Mrs H. M. Smeeton (Auckland), Mrs A. P. Webster (TJ ellington), and Mrs Malcolm and Mrs Smellie (Christchnrch). "I am delighted," said Miss Barnes, "at the response made by the Australasian women and at the fine representation there will be of this part of the world." " - ' •' .-:

Miss Barnes herself will be present at the Stockholm conference, and she will leaye Auckland for Vancouver and Europe by the R.M.S. - Makiira on March 13. The Australasian delegates are to meet in' London and will proceed to Stockholm together.