ASSOCIATED COUNTRY, WOMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 4

ASSOCIATED COUNTRY, WOMEN

WORLD CONFERENCE 1000 DELEGATES TO MEET IN LONDON (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, May 4. The names of two New Zealanders appear as speakers in the official programme of triennial conference of the Associated Country Women of the World, to be held in London from May 30 to June 10. Miss Enid Bell (Wellington) is to take part in the round table conference to discuss “ Local History ” and "Preservation of the Countryside," and Mrs Primmer (Dunedin) is to speak on “Work of the Women on the Land.” New Zealanders are also to be invited to express their views on “ The Education of the Outback Child by Correspondence Courses," Over 1000 delegates, representing 30 countries, are to attend. In addition to the conference itself, there will be an interesting round of social engagements. The president of the A.C.W.W,, as it is briefly known, Mrs Alfred Watt, will take the chair at the cere-

monial opening in Central Hall, Westminster. Mrs Watt, a Canadian, visited New Zealand in the course of a . world tour. She founded the Women’s Institutes of England and Wales in 1915, and established the A.C.W.W. in 1929. CEREMONIAL OPENING Delegates are to meet on the first two days in Central Hall. At the ceremonial/opening on May 30 heralds are to sound trumpets before each announcement; the first half-hour will be devoted to a music recital. Dame Sybil Thorndike will read a prologue by Margaret Stanley Wrench, winner of the Newdigate prize for poetry at Oxford two years ago, and then Mrs Watt will declare the conference open, the announcement being made in English, French and German, the official languages. Delegates will be welcomed officially by the British Government, and a reply will be made by Miss Grace E. Frysinger (U.S.A.), vice-president of the A.C.W.W. A welcome will also be given by Lady Denman, chairman of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes; Grafin Maragarete Keyserlingk, honorary vice-president of the A.C.W.W., will reply. Greetings by

delegates, speaking in their own language and wearing national costume, will follow. FOREIGN OFFICE RECEPTION On the second day the formal business will begin. The president will read her triennial address, and the A.C.W.W. triennial report and sectional reports will be discussed. Messages from fraternal delegates and letters of greeting will be read. In the evening there will be a reception at the Foreign Office. From June 1 meetings will take place in the Friends’ House in Euston road, and it will be here that most of the important work of conference will bo carried out. There will be group discussions on reports from societies, round table conferences, and open meetings at which many addresses on subjects of a wide interest will be given. The plans for the financial future of the A.C.W.W. will be discussed. On June 1 there will be an open conference on “Modern Agricultural Development,” Addresses will be given by Sir Albert Howard, formerly agricultural adviser to States in Central India and Rajputana, and Mr Christopher Tumor, an authority oh land problems and national welfare. In the evening a reception will be given by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, and at night there will be parties at the Lyceum and other clubs. Interesting speakers will include Vis-

countess Rhondda (“Woman’s Voice in Journalism”). Open meetings will discuss “Administration of Health Services in Rural Areas.” There will be conferences on “ Handicrafts,” “ The Rural Theatre and Its Possibilities ” (held at the British Drama League headquarters). “Children’s Handcrafts,” “Training and Work of Organisation Workers,” and “Women’s Place in the Rural Social Order and How It Has Been Achieved.” The annual meeting of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes of England and Wales will be held at the Empress Stadium. Earl’s Court. There will be a special conference on “ Training and Work of Organisation Workers.” VARIETY OF SUBJECTS A wide variety of subjects will be discussed at simultaneous round table conferences. They will include " Division of Labour in the Family.” “ Improvement and Preservation of Old Houses.” “ Use of Leisure in Villages,” “The Country Woman and Her Money Affairs,” “ Family Co-operation,” “ Interdependence of City and Country Women,” “The Woman in the Country Home,” “ Flight From the Land.” “ The Younger Sets,” “Educational Services in Rural Districts,” and “ Marketing as a Feature of Rural Economic Life.” A social event of Interest will be the Buckinghamshire Women’s Institute rally at Cliveden at the invitation

of Lady Astor. Another will be the reception by the Worshipful Company of Grocers in the city of London: there . will be dinners and receptions' at the Forum and other clubs, and an official dinner for all the delegates. CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL SERVICE After the conclusion of the conference there will be a special service in Canterbury Cathedral at the invitation of the Dean of the Chapter. Final meetings of the A.C.W.W, will be on June 9, Resolutions are to be passed and officers elected, and the future plans of the A.C.W.W. will be debated. In addition to the United Kingdom, the dominions, and India, countries represented at the conference will include America. France. Germany, Sweden. Finland. Norway. Jugoslavia. Palestine. Latvia. Estonia. Holland. Italy Switzerland, and Rumania. It is expected in London that New Zealand will be represented by 80 delegates.