WORLD CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23181, 29 October 1938, Page 23

WORLD CONFERENCE

Y.W.C.A. COUNCIL MEETS NATIONAL UNDERSTANDING DOMINION REPRESENTATIVES "As a member of the Young Women's Christian Association, a world organisation which is interdenominational and inter-racial, I feel that Ave must play a great part in building friendly relations between the nations," said Mrs. M. Rudd, North Island delegate to tlio world council meeting of the Young Women's Christian Association, and president of the Auckland Association, who returned by tho Monterey yesterday. "The conference, #which lasted ten days, was held at Elgin House, Mushkoka, Ontario, on tho shores of Lake Joseph," continued Mrs. Rudd. ".Representatives from iJI countries were present, and also delegates from 14 fraternal organisations, who shared our experience and helped in our discussions. Bond of Friendship "During tho conference the Christian principles which we all shared, and our sincere desire for understanding built a tremendous bond of friendship between us," said Mrs. Rudd. "Out of tho discussions camo many resolutions for the future policy of tho movement. We all felt by tho end of the conference that we had a greater and more sympathetic knowledge of the points of view held by the people of different Nations. Vl cannot stress too strongly the valuable experiences to be gathered from a conference of this type, and we in Now Zealand must endeavour to send 'a delegate every year, for living here, so' far from contact with other nations, there is a danger of our interests and sympathies becoming too localised." Topics Discussed Mrs. Kudd said there were five main topics of discussion at the conference. Tho association was discussed as a Christian youth movement, and as a Christian women's movement. Its policy and practice, its social responsibility, and its use iu building Christian international relations were also dealt with. The world president of the movement, Miss Vace Aseli Van Wyck, who has held office for eight years, has been forced to retire, according to the constitution. Mrs. Kudd said Uer place was to be taken by Miss Ruth Rouse, of England, who had served on tho executive for many years. She was once student secretary of the Y.W.C.A. of the United States, and was a great scholar. She had travelled extensively, and planned to visit New Zealand early next year. "It is to youth that we must look, for the future of the world lies in the hands of its young people," said Miss Amo Bennett, the secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association of hangarei, who also returned by the Monterey, after having attended the world conference. '.'Although the conference from which I have just returned was a world council meeting, there were many young people in attendance. 1 had a feeling that we could not help but succeed when so many of the younger generation were devoting their lives to furthering.joyr aims."