WOMAN TO WOMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 91, 15 October 1934, Page 11

WOMAN TO WOMAN

PAN-PACIFIC CONFERENCE

MISS E. MELVILLE RETURNS

"The conclusion. I formed was that,

even if one is a. Japanese, a Korean, an American, or a New Zoalander, we are all alike and that the real ground of similarity is a common, level of educational and cultural attainment: the basis of our discussions was not scientific, but purely human. By that, I mean we met as woman to woman," said Miss Ellen Melville, of Auckland, speaking to a "Post" reporter today about the Pan-Pacific Women's Conference at Honolulu. Miss Melville, well known as an Auckland City Councillor, was one of the New Zealand delegates representing the Federation of Women's Clubs. She returned by the Makura today, after three mouths in California. The conference was attended by women from all nations bordering tho Pacific, and tho object was to promote better understanding among the different peoples. Fifty voting delegates attended and about the same number of associate delegates. Dr. Georgina Sweet, of Melbourne, was the president. Tho principal subjects considered were education, health, industry, social science, and international relations, which latter was the most interesting, Miss Melville thought.

All nations took the proceedings very seriously, and during tho fortnight tho conference was in session there wcro round-table committee discussions, each committee reporting upon particular topics to tho forum, or plenary session of the whole.

It was the third conference of its kind. Having no legislative or executive powers, the conference was purely consultative and aimed at sympathetic mutual understanding.

"It was remarkable to discover how very similar we found each other's problems, no matter to what race we belonged," said Mias Melville. One interesting feature was the appointment of Mrs. Gauntless, a fullblooded Japanese, as president of the next conference, which is to tako place iv 1937, cither in Japan or in Canada. Mrs. Gauntless is the wife- of an Englishman resident in Japan.

After leaving Honolulu, Miss Melville visited California and leetnred to students at Mills College by special invitation, and before the Californiau Women's Club. Her subject both times was an outline of the history and democratic legislation of New Zealand.