PAN-PACIFIC MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 3

PAN-PACIFIC MEETING

ARRIVAL OF DELEGATES A UNIFYING BODY New Zealand delegates to the panPacific Women's Conference, which will open in Honolulu shortly, have been arriving in Auckland during tho weekend, and will leave by the Niagara on Tuesday. The delegation, which will bo headed by Miss E. Andrews, with Mrs. H. W. Bennett as deputy-leader, comprises tho following:—Miss Elsie Andrews, Miss Sullivan (education section), Miss Pappa, Mrs. H. W. Bennett (social questions), Miss A. Basten (women in industry), Mrs. H. Colwill, Miss E. Melville (women in international relations and government), Miss Miria Paiki (women in health), Mrs. Barrer (Women's Division of the Farmers' Union) and Miss Wilkinson. The New Zealand committee of the pan-Pacific Women's Association also hopes to secure Mrs. Felix Keesing and Dr. Mildred Staley as members of the delegation on arrival at Honolulu. Tho members of tho Australian delegation, which arrived in Auckland this morning, include the leader, Miss Margaret M. Flynn, who was a member of the Education Department inquiry appointed by the Victoria Government to investigate the cost and working of the Victorian Education Department, 1933, Dr. Randall-Colyer (New South Wales), who attended the first conference in 1928 as associate-delegate and also attended the regional education conference of teachers in Honolulu in 1932 (Dr. Randall-Colyer has been asked to undertake the arrangement of a small collection of exhibits in regard to aboriginal art), Miss Florence Rothwell (New South Wales), member of the Education Department of that State, secretary of the Quota Club and secretary for the Fair West Children's Health Scheme Women's Auxiliary, Mrs. Marion Townsliend (New South Wales), who attended the International Suffrage Alliance conferences in Paris and Berlin as alternate delegate and also is a member of the United Associations and British Commonwealth League. Dr. Georgian Sweet, of Melbourne, who will preside over tho conference, has gone ahead of the delegation to finalise programme matters, and is already in Honolulu. Until this year she was chairman of the Australian

joint pan-Pacific Women's Committee and also until this year whs chairman of the Australian joint standing committee of Women's Major Federal Organisation with International Affiliations. Since 1927 Dr. Sweet has been the national president of the Y.W.C.A. of Australia. She was sometime associate and acting-professor and is now honorary lecturer in zoology and parasitology in Melbourne University. Another member who is already in Honolulu is Mrs. J. W. C. Bevcridge, vico-president and member of the central executive of the Country Women's Association of New South Wales. At tho first conference held in Honolulu in 1928 a tribute was paid to tho late Hon. Mark Cohen, to whom, aided and abetted by Mr. Alexander Hume Ford, director of tho pan-Pacific Union, was duo the credit of originating the idea of these conferences among the women of tho Pacific. Tho president of the first conference was that most notable woman, Miss Jnno Addams. The second conference in 1930 was presided over by Mrs. A. H. Reeve. Mrs. A. C. Fraer, of Christchurch, was tho leader of the first New Zealand delegation, and of tho second in 1930 was Miss Jean Begg. Ouo of the findings which the Government section reached at the first conference was the conclusion that in tho enfranchised countries there is a great deal of latent power in tho political machinery which women have not yet fully learned to use. Political consciousness, they stated, needs to be fostered in these countries so as to arouse a sense of public responsibility, both in national and world alfairs. Tho section stressed the need for educative means of bringing this about. It also urged that every means should bo taken to promote the responsible participation of women in government.