IN OTHER LANDS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13091, 26 October 1935, Page 3

IN OTHER LANDS.

MISS KANE TELLS OF HER TRAVELS.

ENTERTAINING ADDRESS. Aii address of unusual interest given at tli© hall-yearly council meeting of the Bush-W airarapaFederation, held at Hamua on Thursday, was that by Miss Amy Kane, a member of the Dominion Federation executive and president of the Pioneer Club, W ellington, who has just returned from a conference of the Associated Countrywomen of the World, held at Istamboul, Turkey. Miss Kane said she was very glad to be [present. She had had rather a rush down from Matamata the previous night but she was always delighted to attend the different Federation meetings, comparing one with the other. This was quite an old and experienced Federation whereas was just a young organisation. Miss Kane explained that the Institutes of New Zealand were affiliated to the Associated •Countrywomen 7 s organisation of the world, an international body of women from the rural associations of the world. The headquarters were in London and the president Mrs Watt. The Women’s Institute was inviting Mrs Watt to tour New Zealand after the next conference in Washington, IT.S-.A., in June of next year. The Institutes would be required to raise sufficient money to pay her expenses on the trip. In the opinion of the speaker the New Zealand Institutes should send a delegate to the next conference at Washington. At the last one which she attended in Istamboul, Turkey, questions were discussed to< give women equal status with men, the right to earn and to retain ones nationality. The subject of collective security was also discussed and invoked some interesting discussion. Istamboul was the new name for Constantinople and although they expected constant sunshine there they did not get it. All such international meetings were productive of some good. Miss Kane referred to tile picturesque Indian delegation and mentioned that no German women were present because the Dictatorship did not allow them to pardelegates found the language difficulty rather awkward. Fortunately, they had the services of a Madame Ginsberg, a Swiss woman, on the library staff of the League of Nations. Her translation of the foreign speakers was brilliant and often realistic.

Discussing the social side, Miss Kane said ilie delegates were magnifieently entertained. They saw a good deal of Turkey, an old country which was beginning again as a Republic under a benevolent Dictator, Kemal Pasha. He was a man who showed an intense enthusiasm for bis country. He had brought about complete franchise for the women of Turkey who bc-day had actually earned seats in Parliament. Others were on municipal councils, or were doctors, nurses and even magistrates. The women were very highly educated and cultured. After referring to the many experiments in Turkey, Miss Kane spoke of the beauty of Istamboul. It was a hilly city with water surrounding it everywhere. She saw the Sultan’s Palace and his jewelled treasures. When sailing up the lied Sea towards Suez the captain took the steamer close to the African coast by Italian and British Somaliland which seemed to be a bare and harden country. In the light of the present Abyssinian situation she recalled her tour with particular interest. When going up this coast they passed close to a number of natives fishing in. tiny skiffs. Their skins were quite black and their hair -very fuzzy. They were obviously Ethiopians. Going up through the Dardanelles to Istamboul Mrs Kane said she called at Rhodes, now the hospital base for the Italian troops. It was historically famous also by reason of the fact that it was one of the last places held by the Knights Hospitallers several centuries ago until finally captured bv the Turks. As mentioned before, the speaker expected constant sunshine. She took only one. warm coat and practically lived in it. When crossing Europe on the way to England she even experienced snow at Vienna on May Ist. In conclusion, Miss Kano said she visited several histitut.es in England hut members probably knew all about the activities'there through their Home links. Miss Kane was heartily applauded far her entertaining address and Mis Cl. Jennings (Makuri) moved a hearty vote of thanks to the visitor '■for her delightful and interesting talk. It had been a pleasure and a privilege to listen to her experiences and they only wished that time would permit them to hear a. great deal mare. (Applause')