INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23577, 13 August 1938, Page 29

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN

GOLDEN JUBILEE CONFERENCE THIRTY-FIVE COUNTRIES REPRESENTED WORK OF LADY ABERDEEN (From Oub Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, July 20. The Golden Jubilee Conference of the International Council of Women at Edinburgh was attended by representatives of 35 countries. Subjects discussed ranged from the use of wireless in the cause of peace to domestic management. Striking tributes were paid to Lady Aberdeen, who has been a member of the council for 36 years. She was referred to as "our dear grannie," and gifts were sent to her from many countries, including

Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Argentine. Dr Marie Castellani, Italy's organiser of women's broadcasts and convener of the I.C.W. Broadcasting Committee, suggested that practical contacts should be established among the different countries, so as to bring into real efficiency "a feminine radio programme " built on almost identical lines, and touching all the problems of fundamental importance to women. She suggested also the promotion of international radio exchanges and the organisation of periodical feminine international broadcasts, during which well-known women of the different countries should send messages to fel-low-members of other countries. Special classes to give proper training to speakers and proper qualifications for radio work, she proposed, should be given to professional women,

such as journalists, writers, lecturers, musicians, doctors, and nurses. Two resolutions on broadcasting were adopted. One expressed the belief that broadcasting by women was of special value in combating social evils and in the promotion of peace, and urged that suitably qualified women in all countries should interest themselves actively in the subject The second was a plea that the League of Nations convention on the use of broadcasting in the cause of peace to be put into practice. EQUALITY OF SEXES Unanimous approval was given to a resolution urging member orgamsati ns to continue working for the equality of rights between men and women in all fields. It was submitted from America, and it recorded the International Council's "profound conviction " that it was only by permitting and encouraging women to play a full and responsible part in the political, economic, and intellectual life of their country that the civilisation and prosperity of future generations might be developed on a sound basis of general understanding and enlightenment, the sanctity of the home preserved, and moral standards be prevented from sinking. How women working internationally might influence the development of both broadcasting and the kinema provided two of the most interesting topics. The necessity of further research

into questions of diet in general throughout the world was emphasised in a report of the Public Health Standing Committee, submitted by Dame Janet Campbell, D.B.E. "Our knowledge of standard or optimum diets, it was stated, " is still too limited, and it is desirable to consider the individual as well as the family unit. Account should also be taken of natural and local habits, customs, and tastes, as well as the psychology of the people concerned and their possible reluctance to try new methods or foods. WORK OF LADY ABERDEEN Tributes from all parts of the world were paid Lady Aberdeen on her work for the council. A golden jubilee medal was struck for her, and presented by Baroness Pol Boel, of Belgium, president of the International C ° U Lady Aberdeen," she said "stands out a figure apart even from the many great women who' have marked this age of women's emancipation and development. She has done.all that she could without stint and without limit. Sheitas"given all her abundance of personal charm, of great ability of S'Paid by Cdonel Tnhn Colville Secretary of State for S otland. Dame Maria Ogilvie Gordon announced that the natlona councils had raised a jubilee fund for tne work of the I.C.W. which was to bear Lady Aberdeen's name. The fund English, French, g and German were used alternativelv to explain to delegates me Sonte which speakers wished to convey The majority -ere most at home in French. A number of Britisn wom F en n spoke in French and one delegate whose native tongue was Italian -was applauded when she delivered her. speech in the three 01ficial languages of the conference.