FROM FOREIGN PARTS

NZ Truth, Issue 1200, 29 November 1928, Page 17

FROM FOREIGN PARTS

World's Women Welcome N.Z. Miss Law's Trip

"It's the name Budapest that does it," said Miss Law, secretaryofthe ■Y.W-.G.Ar's National. Board, gazing hopelessly at a list of appointments to lecture and more appointments to interview.

UT. DON'T believe anyone would have 1 been excited if I'd just gone to America — or China. But nobody goes to Budapest — so m the few weeks since my return, I've made , more speeches about my trip than ■ I'd ever thought of In my life before. "I started out, early this year, to represent the New Zealand Y.W.C. A. at a world's conference of the Association, which was to be held m Budapest. My going was made possible by Mr. Little, who, m the name of the World Association, made grants enabling 1 representatives from far away parts to attend. "Over forty nations were represented and m a group of thirty" women, of which I was chairwoman, eighteen languages were spoken. "At any moment somebody might burse into Norwegian, or something equally hopeless from my point of view, so I just had to look intelligent uni'il I could whisper to one of .the many clever women who spoke six ot soven languages. Three tongues — English, German and French — were, however, mainly used. "I found that New Zealand was re- | garded as very far away — on a level] with Iceland— but our laws and methods were treated with great respect. "In fact, at these conferences, the smaller nations are put on the same level as great ones, and are given a chance to teach as well as to learn. "Budapest ... well, imagine a piace of 860 • room's, marvellous.

gardens, queer old carvings and splendid uniforms. "That is where we were received by the Regent. A princess is president of the Hungarian Y.W.C.A., which means court backing and ail the associations of ancient Hungarian nobility. It is aiinost impossible to describe the grace and charm of many of the European ladies who acted as our host 3. And, besides being ornamental, they are of real use to their countries and ;to the world. "Hungarian women wear national costume still, and are often very beautiful. Among some, there is an attitude of unquestioning obedience to their overlords which takes one. back to feudal days — but the university students are the cleverest* people I've ever met. '.• ■ ■ "One big Y.W.C.A. hostel took charge of 14,000 women m the course of a single year— and 10,000 of them couldn't pay anything. "In Europe, peasant life is disappearing before secondary industries, which means that all the girls are flocking into town, because there is no work elsewhere. . "In Germany, there are more trampcrs, man and woman, to tne square inch, than anywhere else m the wcjrld — even New Zealand, which calls itself an open air country, can't compete^ ! The girls have magnificent hair, coils of it, and don't wear any hats, but have I rather full skirts and: quaint blouses. "The men wear knickers m. bright shades of tan or brown, and belts, gaily decorated with national medals, around their waists and . over their shoulders. They seem to be always walking — but, m the, case of menfolk, most of them, need to. They spend a great deal of their time m beer gar--dens—and such LONG beers. ; i"The League'of Nations is work- ' U)3 in' with us, and the Y'.W.CiA., which originated m England, is shifting its headquarters to Geneva, where there is more chance of , comparing women's industrial conditions. •'■ '