INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 46

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.

COUNCIL OF WOMEN. WASHINGTON, May 5. Opening the seventh quinquennial session of the International Council of Women, the Countess of Aberdeen declared that the organisation’s strength lay in its inhibition against dealing with controversial political and religious issues between nations. “Our special power as women lies in thß formation of public opinion in favour of mutual aid and international co-operation, based on fuller knowledge and intercourse between the nations and their component parts,” said the Countess. She asserted that the council must strive to gather up the war-worn peoples of the earth “in the arms of an enveloping motherhood, and soothe away all their fears of one another and of an unknown future.’*

Addresses were made in four official French, German and Spanish.

NEW ZEALAND’S ACTIVITIES. WASHINGTON, May 6.

New Zealand’s National Council of Women delegation under Miss Kane, is participating in the International Conference this year, for the first time. Miss Taylor is New Zealand’s representative on the new standing committee dealing with child protection, under the chairmanship of Lady Aberdeen. It was announced at the first meeting of this committee that all the matters brought forward were already receiving attention by the child welfare authorities of New Zealand, and the delegates commented on the dominion’s fine progress in this field. Dr Northcroft’s report on New Zealand’s publio health has been singled out for special mention by the board of officers as most comprehensive and informative. Mrs Jones, the New Zealand representative on the standing Committee of Peace, commenting on the publicity given to the International Council’s resolutions on this subject, said she considered them to bs very moderate. MARRIED WOMEN AND NATIONALITY. WASHINGTON, May 7. The Australian delegation to the International Council of Women has congratulations to the British House of Commons on its unanimous acceptance of the principle, that women should have the right to retain or change their nationality on marriage. The delegation moreover expressed a desire to see Australia the first dominion to follow this important vital step. Miss Baird, who is a member of the Educational Committee, is trying to obtain some definite opinion from the Council concerning methods of dealing with abnormal and mentally deficient children. The Australian delegation is against the suggestion that the Council should advise women to enter different political parties, because the International Council, and all national councils, being non-party and nonpolitical organisations, they feel that the council should not offer any suggestion tending to help party systems. It is probable that the Laws Committee will frame a resolution asking that the one concerning the nationality of married women be referred to the League of Nations, deeming the problem so important as to call for the opinion of eminent judical authorities. SIMULTANEOUS DISARMAMENT. NEW YORK, May 8. The New Zealand delegation to the International Council of Women has cabled the British House of Commons congratulations, similar to the Australian message. The delegation to-day attended a meeting of women’s party of America. Mrs Jones haa discussed the immigration question with the CommissionerGeneral of Immigration. The Council aaopted a resolution favouring a gradual and simultaneous disarmament “under an effective control to be agreed upon by the respective Governments and the League or Nations,” and favouring the aiding of ueaceful relatione by a policy of regarding neighbours as their natural friends. Lady Aberdeen has been re-elected president.