A WORLD MOVEMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21548, 20 July 1933, Page 5

A WORLD MOVEMENT

THE WIDER OUTLOOK SWING OF THE PENDULUM "There is no doubt that there is a groat move toward nn international outlook in the world to-day," said Miss van A sell van Wyck, world president of the Young A\ onion's Christian Association, who arrived in Auckland yesterday, accompanied by Miss Niven, world secretary of tlio same organisation. "Unfortunately there is at tho same time an outlook that will not rise above the interests of its own particular country, and wo see something of tho consequences of that in the conference now taking place in London." This is the first time that a world president and world secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association have been in New Zealand together and tlits two visitors, who are ou a world tour in the interests of their organisation, have just completed a visit to Australia. Miss van Ascli van Wyck spoke of tho different countries in whieh_ the Young Women's Christian Association is at work. Slio had but recently conio away from China, where conditions were chaotic and feeling very bitter 'against the Japanese. "Tho resent tho expenditure of money, of time, of life, and of en erg}' that has been forced upon them by tho Japanese in the war that has been taking place. They feel that it h;\s thrown them back for many years just at a period when they were advancing in modern methods and modern education."

Miss van Aseh van Wyck spoke also of tho work of the association in Iceland, where there were only two .months of summer as against tho rest of tho year, when the country was wrapped in snow and ice. "In Iceland," sho said, "there is tho only Y.W.C.A. that has over been formed in a prison—formed by the daughters of tho governor of the prison. There, summer courses are conducted for girls from more or less distant farms and they learn singing, games, cooking, sewing and handicrafts —very useful knowledge in providing occupation and interests in the long winter months that face thorn later in tho year. "The world's highest Y.W.C.A.," she said, "is to be found in Bolivia, in tho Andes in South America. Paraguay and Brazil also have their associations." Speaking of tho conditions in Europe, Miss van Ascli van Wyck said she did not think people in either Australia or New Zealand had auy idea of tho misery and hopelessness that dominated a vast proportion of the people of Europe. They had been enveloped in it for years, and it had bred a certain psychology that had made them ripe for revolutionary changes. That was one reason why the Nazi movement had swept Germany.

Speaking of the revolt of the younger generation against authority, religion and family tradition, Miss van Asch van Wyck said that to a certain extent that phase was passing in Europe. Youth was now desiring to be led, to find a refuge from tho harassing problems that beset it, and desiring the return of authority instead of individualism. That was yet another reason for the Nazi movement in Germany, and a reason also for tho Fascist movement in Italy. Tho younger generation was looking for leaders, and leaders were being trained.-' "It is the swing of the pendulum after tho war years," she said.