Country Life Interests

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20346, 10 November 1937, Page 3

Country Life Interests

j A pag* devoted to the lntereste of the Country Women of the Wilkato, end in particular to advanolng and recording the activities of those two great national organisations, the Women’s Institutes and the j, Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union.

EMINENT WOMEN OF THE PACIFIC COUNTRIES A PEACE CONFERENCE Vancouver, British Columbia, has, during the past month been the scene of the fourth Conference of the Women *U „ ° on ' ■tlon, whose purpose is "the strengthening of the bonds of peace am ng Pacific people by the promotion of a better understanding and friendship among the women of all Paoiflc countries, writes VJB., in the Countiy W ° m s"nce its organisation in 1928 it has held three triennial conferences, presided over by Miss Jane Addams, Hull House Chicago .Mrs H A. Heeve Philadelphia, President of the International Fedeiation of Home School Associations; and Dr. Georgina Sweet of Melbourne representative for Australia at the Institute of Paciflo Relations, the Assembly of the League of Nations and many other At eac of the conferences from ten to fifteen countries m the Paciflo Area have been represented by a number of their best informed women and have been most influential In the shaping of public opinion. The general theme for the conference was Practical Ways and Means of Promoting Peace.’' Under this heading there were six divislons: 1. Youth Movements for Peaoe, 2. Trafflo in Arms, . .. . 3. (a) Labour Standards and Standards of Living in Relation to International Trade Competition, (b) Population Pressures and their relation to Peace on tne Paciflo. *. Teohnitfue of Developing Publio Opinion, 5. Socialised Health Programme. 6. Adjustment of Educational Programmes to Changing Social Helationshlps. The conference brought together some of the most brilliant women of the Paciflo countries. Mrs Tsune Gauntlett, Tokio, Japanese wife of a British profesesor, who is the international president, was in the chair. Dr. Georgina Sweet, of Melbourne, Australia, Is a member of the science and veterinary faculties of the University of Melbourne. The Chinese delegation was headed Iby Mrs. Hau-Chuen Mel, Shanghai, speaker and writer. Among the American delegates were Roberta Cameron Lawson, Tulsa, Oklahoma, President of the 'Federation of Women’s Clubs; and Dr. Hildegard Kneeland, chief of the Bureau of Home Economics, Washington. Dr. Viva B. Appleton, Honolulu, was formerly in charge of Maternal and Infant Hygiene, Territorial Board of Health; she was for three years with the Council of Health Education, Shanghai; and spent ten months with Grenfell’s Medical Mission in Labrador. Mrs. Burden, British Columbia, represented the Associated Country Women of the World. The position of women of the Paciflo countries has undoubtedly been strengthened through their contacts with the Pan-Paciflo Women's Association. The women of the Orient have taken a larger part in governmental affairs, have benefited in education and industry. The women of the North American continent, too, have received inspiration, a broader outlook and a wider knowledge and understanding of Pacific peoples and problems.