STIMULATING INTEREST IN WOMEN OF THE PACIFIC

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 183, 5 August 1938, Page 12

STIMULATING INTEREST IN WOMEN OF THE PACIFIC

Fifth Conference in New Zealand ADDRESS BY MISS ELSIE ANDREWS “The whole basis of the work of tue x'iui-o. a-ciue w Oxueu a assoviauiou is its Vr or«. lOx said ..xiss juixSxe Aiiurcvvs, xa-u.xto a oawuaig ox woxu&a tii x-auW.xx>tou 1 ( -iOxoU ycwoOXuay Hi ail au.Ui.fcSS to uue-Lcot m we xoxoxlcgiu.ng ux-uiiiiai fcOjXifc-uuce vo ue neiu iU Wellington in i94u. oontunung, ' .hiss Andrews said tue day uau gone uy wnen one coiaiiay couia process at tue expense oi an* other country. xne intense in- j cerest in the couxexenee neid in Uanaua nad snown tne aruent desire oi peopie to nna some less ignoble way of settling tneor differences. j\o one Knew uetter than the women that war omy leit the world muen worse than it was beiore, she said. only wnen we renounced the right to retaliation could the individual be considered peace-minded. Sponsored by the Manawatu branch oi the National Council or W omen, a public meeting was held xa St. Andrew s hail yesterday and auaxossed by Miss Andrews, chairman oi the New Zealand committee for the conference. The -mayoress, Mrs. A. E. Mansford, - a vice-president, presided in the absence < of the president, Mrs. H. Paterson, of J lahiatua, and extended a cordial wel- ] come to txie speaker. Following the 1 custom of New Zealanders, who always 1 “said it with, flowers,” she asked Miss 1 Andrews to accept a shoulder spray oi 1 violets and freesias. Further welcome was shown in the i artistic decorations of the stage on which had been arranged a prolusion ■ of spring flowers by Mesdaraes Uillot, J Stidolph, Manning, Cranton and Lyne, members ox the gardening circle of the Townswomen's Guild. At the outset, Aliss Andrews explained that any country whose shores were washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean had the right to be m the Pan-Pacific Association. New Zealand had a particular link in that the idea of the association had originated in the mind of the late Hon. Mark Cohen, of Dunedin. Attending a conference in Honolulu and having in mind the welfare work done by New Zealand women, Air. Cohen made the suggestion of departing from the traditional men’s conference to the director of the PanPacific Union and the tfnion had been interested. From that spark the machinery was set in motion, Miss Andrew’s said. In the prcliminarj 7 arrangements wonderful help had come from the W.C.T.U., the oldest interuational women’s organisation, and the Y.W.C.A., established in so many countries round the Pacific. After four years of preparation the first conference of women had been in Honolulu, Mrs. C. A. Fraer heading the New Zealand delegation. Alatlers were not finalised at that meeting and delegates returned for further consideration two years later. As an indication of the interest of the Pan-Pacific Union, that body’ had paid for the lodging of every delegate. The speaker had attended that conference as a representative of the New Zealand Women Teachers. The pros and cons of the new association had been considered, some feeling there might be an over-lumping of the existing organisations, others thinking the day for separate women’s organisations had gone past. The influence of the conference had been subtle, out of which had grown the conviction that it would be a good thing to have an organisation with no bias—aule to discuss problems from a broad basis as they affected humanity as a wnole. it was important to reel that the wox’k you were doing mattered, Miss Andrews stressed, and in this joint organisation they were doing worn, tkat really mattereu. Dame ifachei Crowdy, representative of the x<cague ox Nations, nad been sceptical, but had changed her mind when she realised by this association women of the Pacific would no iongtii be cut off from world movements. fc»trfcxi 0 x>o.uus ox .reace Continuing, Aliss Andrews pointed out tnat tne aims and objects of the Pan-x-'aciL. Women’s Association were to strong inea tho bonus of peace amongst Pacific peoples by promoting a better understanding au'i frieudsuip amongst tho women and to try to improve existing conditions. Tho great test came when the question arose how to bring about these objectives. Often a perfectly good objective was spoilt by using tainted means to gain our ends. There was never an easy way out of national and international problems, tho speaker contended; these needed time, patience and thought. The hard road of study was necessary. It was only as we increased our store of knowledge wo had a chance of gaining wisdom, tho speaker said. Out of the inspiration of tho tri-ennial conferences had come the realisation of the similarity of interests in the minds of women tho world over. They gave attention to every phase in health work, and in particular their efforts were directed towards peace, which was the wholo basis of the association’s work. “We make a mistake in stressing our differences,” Miss Andrews said, “the basic similarity goes deeper still—to the very life stream. We would get further ahead if -wo started from that basic similarity.” The Fifth Conference. Explaining how New Zealand’s invitation to hold tho fifth conference in this country in 1940 had been accepted, Miss Andrews said great interest had been aroused in the Dominion. Not the least interesting feature in the conference would be the fact that overseas delegates would see Maori women and white women working as friends, two representatives of the Maori race in Mrs. H. D, Bennett, of Wellington, and

Princess Te Puea being on the preparation committee. Another factor was that they would see the country at its best dressed for the centennial celebrations. New Zealand, Miss Andrews said, had played a not unworthy part in suggesting alterations for the 1940 programme. Hitherto, there had been so many subjects for discussion at the conferences that delegates had found it impossible to do justice to each of them. New Zealand delegates to til* last conference had suggested that it would be of greater benefit to of the Pacific countries if fewer sub jects were chosen for discussion. Per haps discussion of a subject could be opened at one conference and continued at the next, and so give a desirable continuity to tho work of the association. Every country that had considered the New Zealand suggestion had endorsed it. Instead of leaders for the various subjects being appointed after the conference had dispersed, leaders had been chosen at the last conference, and so have plenty of time to study “Economic Interdependence,” one subject for discussion at the 1940 conference. Aliss Josephine Schain (New York) had been chosen leader for this subject. Oriental delegates had suggested that a cultural topic should also be chosen, and it had been agreed that “Cultural Contributions to the Pacific” should also be studied. Mrs. Felix Keesing, a New Zealand woman, now living in Honolulu, will lead this discussion. New Zealand would have a delegation of 30, Aliss Andrews told the meet ing, and she intimated in various wayj how interest could be stimulated and assistance given. This would be the first international conference of women ever held in the Dominion and it had taken 100 years to get it, she concluded. Questions were then invited and satisfactorily answered. This was the 44th centre she had visited, Aliss Andrews remarked, and the 69th talk she had given. The vote of thanks to the speaker was conveyed by Mrs. C. A. Small and endorsed by Miss M. Grant, Mrs. Aitchison thanking Mrs. Mansford for presiding. Miss H. M. Saunders was appointed convener of the locality committee it is proposed to set up. There was a pleasant gathering at afternoon tea at the Jade restaurant subsequently when representatives of the various women’s organisations conveyed greetings to Aliss Andrews. A Busy iiay. Miss Andrews addressed members of the Alanawatu County Club yesterday morning and last evening a further address was given to business and professional women. Mrs. M. H. Oram, president of the Business Girls’ Club presided and welcomed Aliss Andrews, Mrs. J. Walker, president of the Manawatu branch of the Women Teachers’ Association, proposing the vote of thanks which was seconded by Miss C Warburton, president of the Business and Professional Women’s Round Table Club. Miss Andrews proceeds to Hunter villo this morning.