MISS PETRICEVICH REPORTS ON WOMEN in ASIA

Te Ao Hou, September 1955, Page 8

MISS PETRICEVICH REPORTS ON WOMEN in ASIA Miss Miraka Petricevich, a delegate to the Pan-Pacific Women's International Conference held in Manila from January 24 to February 6, 1955, has described her impressions at the recent Dominion Conference in Auckland. Her report presents a new sense of fellowship between the Maori people and the peoples of Asia. I WOULD like to begin my observations at home, where the idea of our representation became a reality. First of all, the very act of your decision to send a delegate overseas became a momentous occasion in the history of our people; momentous because it marked a forward step in our thinking, in the broadening of our horizons and the awakening to a consciousness of the need to participate in world concerns. In doing so you joined the rest of the world in this period of “man's awareness of mankind”. Secondly, the wonderful response from all members in achieving this objective which last year's conference had set the league was indicative of your sincerity and tenaity of purpose. The theme which was selected for discussion at the Manila conference was Social and Economic Inter Dependence. It means simply that the countries of the world are now more than ever dependent on each other socially and economically, and we can no longer remain isolated and think only of our own needs. There must be greater sharing of the world's products and acceptance of the fact that other people's needs are the same as ours. Although countries of the world appear far distant, present day communications and inventions bring them very close together—so close that if there was another war no country would be too far away to avoid the effects of modern warfare. People go to war because they are not happy or satisfied with their lot—hence it is necessary for all people to be concerned with the problems of mankind. This was the Seventh International Conference of the Pan-Pacific Women's Association (now called the Pacific and South East Asian Women's Association) which was unique in that it was the first international conference of women to be held in the Far East. For this reason, and for the fact that the Far East seemed to be a festering spot for future trouble such a gathering therefore had tremendous potentialities for unique achievement. Hence I had conjured up the idea in my mind that every vessel or aircraft carrying a delegate eastwards to Manila carried within it perhaps the most unique cargo that mankind has ever shipped across continents and oceans, not of precious gems, gold or silver merchandise, but of those most intangible substances called “hope”, “goodwill”, “understanding” and “peace”. For I did sincerely believe that every delegate proceeding to this conference carried within her a pulsating embryo of peace and goodwill and a sincere hope for greater understanding and sympathy among the peoples of the world. More so were these things

necessary for in Manila awaited a people whose history has been one of subjugation for over 500 years. Their feelings may best be expressed in the messages of welcome extended to us by their President and Vice-President. Like the Philippinos, I too believed that this was the one objective which inspired all our greatest hopes and expectations and because of this fact I have chosen this particular theme as the focal point from which I have tried to analyse the conference, because of course it was the one objective which affected me most and which affects our people as a whole. If this objective was merely a statement of meaningless words to touch the gullible, then I am afraid the conference had no meaning for me and no value to you: in which case I could well be classed as a sentimental fool clutching at straws. But when I saw that the President of the Philippines and all his people were similarly affected as well as all the delegates from the Asian countries, then I felt I was not alone in considering this as the fundamental theme of conference and the real reason for our being there. Hence the moment of arrival when hands clasped hands and east met west, only emphasised the hour when all would give voice to the burning desires which were common to all, i.e. security against want and war and a lasting peace based upon greater understanding, sympathy, friendship, and most important of all, justice. It remained with the conference then to bring about a unity of thought based upon sincerity of feeling and ideals which transcend all barriers. Unfortunately in some ways the conference was not entirely successful and many of these hopes, desires, feelings of friendship, etc., nurtured for so long were unrealised. May I say that these are my thoughts and mine alone.