UNIVERSITY WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11655, 20 October 1923, Page 8

UNIVERSITY WOMEN

annual MEETING CD? FEDERATION. Tlie annual meeting of the Welling ton branch of the Federation of Ifni versity Women was held Inst night nf Victoria College. Dr. Agnes Bennett presided. The annual report stated inter alia : - - - Tliis year has extended from 4nlv, 1922, to October, 1923, owing to the fact that it was not until July of last year that this branch was foi mally organised, and it was found inadvisable to hold a fresh election after three months occupied chiefly in organising. The membership now stands at 3/, which it is hoped will be doubled in the* coming ydar. Tho activities for the past year have for the most part taken tho form *»f monthly meetings which have been well attended, and have furnished a meet-iug-ground for graduates from ail parts of the world located iu Wellington -who otherwise might have lacked exch an opportunity. The first conference of the for.j branches was held in , Dunedin last Easter. This branch was represented by Miss Moncrieff.

Each branch was set a definite piece of investigation’. The task set this branch was the investigation of tho examination system* of New Zealand. A committee has been set up to cany this out. .It was also decided at the conference to raise the sum of £4OO to be sent towards the purchase of Crosby Hall. The purchase of Crosby Hall would be a great boon to New Zealand University women who are going yearly in increasing numbers to England, and, would give a great stimulus to the international ideals of the federation. Several travelling scholarships have been offered by branches in different countries. This branch this year sent in the name of Miss Airirn Pope, who was one of the organisers of this branch; so far no results have been heard. The committee regrets the loss of two of its members—Mrs Somerville and Mrs Harwood, who found it necessary to resign from the committee during the year. Miss Hind and Miss Kennedy who have recently returned from abroad and know something of the value of such a world-wide federation, have been elected to tint ftommittee. The committee wishes to thank very cordially all who have m any way assisted This branch in this its initial year. Our thanks are specially due to the University authorities, who have so kindly permitted the use of the women’s common room and lecture rooms for the meetings.

Tho first year of such a federation must of necessity be a year of much organising with little to show, but the increasing membership and enthusiastic attendance at the meetings show that the federation has excellent prospects for the future. With the recognition by all University women of the responsibility placed on them by their special training, there is no reason why the federation should not be a vital influence in helping to mould the thought and policy of the country. In one respect the organisation ot our branch is still deficient. An important part of any branch’s work is to get into touch with visiting graduates from different parts of*the world, so as to emphasise our international fellowship and to enable an inter change of views that would be of mutual benefit. During the past year several visitors have been in Welling ton, amongst them Miss Sophia Nieholls, M.A., F.R.G.S., Dr. Norton, Dame Adelaide Anderson, but unfortunately owing largely 4o our having no clubhouse and to the difficulty of getting into touch with numbers w* were unable to show any special hospitality, and even in some cases to meet with them. The Pioneer Club on several occasions invited members to meet distinguished visitors, and oui thanks arc due to the club.

A conference will take place next Easter in Wellington, and there will 1 be two if not three dnve of meeting.?, discussions, social gathering*, etc. j Each (cnt-re will have its .special sub- j ject of investigation to place In-fore 1 the conference, and the conference should give a stimulus to the four tranches and most csjMxinlly to the ’hostess branch there. 'The committee feels that it cannot urge too strongly the co-operation of all its members, for it is in such gatherings that mutual understandings and a broadened and sympathetic outlook aio fostered. OFFICERS ELECTED AND GENERAL. The following officers wore elected: President. Miss Hind; vice-president. Dr. Agnes Bennett; secretary, Mrs Hall; treasurer, MUs Kennedy; committee, Mrs Whyte, Miss Cooke, and Miss Claohnn. Dr. Bennett, announced that a scholarship at Girton College was offered tor a research student from a foreign university A letter from Dr. Githa Chapman, who had attended the confederation in E'ngland, was re:*d. Following the business meeting an address was given by Mrs Schotcficld on

(he Women’s Internationa] League for Fence and Arbitration Sha spoke a great deal of Jane Addatms ancf quoted mmi her book, ‘'Pen.ee and 1 Bread, ’ two things, which the author said had become combined in her mind through her work on fool eoraiiiissKms during tho war. Long before the war Jane Ad da ms lied be on at work for pence, am. when war bnrke out she preached that women should take up some definite work towards international peace, and so make war impo?.«siblc. It was the International Women's League vho first formulated President Wilson's 14 points, and the firat idea of the Longue of Nations. The speaker described Jane Addams's work in a slum settlement in Chicago, which brought her into touch with all nationalities. She was so looked un to in America that she was sent for whenever difficult problems had to be settled. The league has held several conferences, holding one at The Hague in 1915, when ! women of the belligerent countries were present. From this delegates lmd visited fourteen countries to try and urge a basis for peace. In 1919 a conference was hold at Zurich, and this was the first public body to receive a copy of the l>oace terma, which ther condemned utterly. In December. 3922, a special conference was held in Vienna to consider a now pence, and they are urging a world congress of all Government to have the treaty rewired. Another work is trying to revise h!story books, and they have compiled a rending book including the literature o* fourteen countries. One thing accomplished had been that Scandinavian countries had been induced to allow civil service to take the place of military service. This might be the future means of peace. Mrs Scliolefield urged her hearers to link up with the league.

MISS STELLA POWER

There was a good attendance of members in tho social room of the Pioneer Chib yesterday, when a reception ‘was held in honour of Miss Stella Power, the Australnn singer. Tho rooms were decorated with lilies, pale mauve irises, Michaelmas daisies, and crimson rhododendrons with food effect. After afternoon tea hud been served, the president welcomed Alisa Power to tho club and to Wellington, and expressed the pleasure all felt that -an Australian had done so well in the artistic world. Miss Power declared herself much too nhy to make a speech, but s-he met and spoke with nearly all those prewit, who % were charmed with her simple and spontaneous manner. A welcome was ah:) extended to country and visiting members, among the latter being Airs Denton Leach, of Dunedin, who responded. Diming the afternoon the president handed to Mire Taylor a little gift as a memento of the club’s first dinner f>arty. which che had been chiefly insti umental in arranging, and Atiss Taylor warmly thanked members foi thinking of her. Miss Power was wearing n threepiece costume of tan coloured crepo morocnin, the short coat of wool morocain having embroidery in henna and with a touch .of bronze heading, and finiehod with n beaver collar. Her small hat was of ribbon in two shades of brown. -She was presented with a posy of carnations and likes of the valley.’