MRS KENNETH GORDON TELLS CLUB MEMBERS ABOUT THE PAN-PACIFIC CONFERENCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 60, 3 December 1937, Page 15

MRS KENNETH GORDON TELLS CLUB MEMBERS ABOUT THE PAN-PACIFIC CONFERENCE

"If the time ©ver comes when women can combine solely and simply for the benefit of humanity, jt wili be a power sucli as the world has never known " These words were written by tbe .Vietorian writer, Matthew Aronld, and were quoted at the opening of the address given by Mrs. Kenneth Gordon at the Hastings Women's Commumty flub on Wednesday. The speaker is the acting-president of the Auckland Lyceum Club, and was the .delegate from the Federated Women's C|ubs of New Zealand at the recent Pan-Pacific Gonference at> Vancouver, about .which she spoke to those present. Mrs. T. H, Lowry, club president, introduced Mrs. Gordon to the iijeinbers and she was preseatedi with a lovely bouquet in deep red tonings. The speaker urged tho club members to realise the truth of Matthew Aruold's words, and to realise the power which the members of the lederated women's clubs could have in combination with the members of all tne other women's organisations. Mrs. Gordon said what a great cxperience jt was to. be a delegate at the conference and to nieet so many wonuerful women, thero being about 118 deiegates present from many countries Dordering on the Pacific and includiiig many notable Chinese and Japanose women, oue of the latter being tbe president at tbe conference. Madame Clnang Kai-sliek, of China, was unablo to attend, but sent a very wondevhjl paper, and it was obvious throughout the conferonce that tbe Cliineso and Japanese women longed for world peace and were trymg to bring this about. "The theme of ihe conference was to discuss praotical ways and means to promiote world peace," said the speaker, "and it was felt that though women organised well during th© World Wai, their organisation for peace has been less good and they should realise that eome constructive work must be dione tp promote»peace. "Peace can be brought about by .the Buccesslul adjustiuent tor changing couditions. and that "ou^iderable adjustmurt is necessary was realised by jnany of the deiegates at the conference when the head of tbe Chinese delegation brought greetings from 200 miliion Chinese women and one of the Koreau deiegates greeting® from 10 miliion women. It seented almos.t incredible when one considered that the total population of New Zealand was only' about li inillions." Mrs. Gordon said that one.of the subjects about which she had to speak wa® the technique of developing publio opinion in New Zealand in the direction of world peace. She said that though this appeared a difficult subject it proved one of the most interesting and successful topics of the whole conference. In her address she said that tliere were three great sources and guides regarding publio opinion — the newspaper, the screen and the radio. She said that though the Press in New Zealand was considered to be splendid it could not be absolutely unbiassed with regard to the opinion of the people for the reason that the proprietors, directors, shareholders, advertisers, and readers and also the politics of the paper had to be considered as well as what would sell the paper. The screen, Mrs. Gordon considered to be wonderful now because the people had demanded good films and had got them, and with the radio also the people were getting what they wanted. "One factor, however, which will play a tremendous part in moulding publio opinion for peace is the voice of the women," Baid Mrs. Gordon. "Though it may be said that they talk when they ought to keep quiet, and keep quiet when they ought to talk, and are sometimes so sincere that i&ey become aggressive, and perhaps do not often think enough, their voice is unselfish and is beginning to tell in New Zealand and will do so more and more in .the future.

"Tbe betterment of humanity is essentially the work of the women of the world, and everyone must realise that this work for peace is international and knows no borders. The time will then come wlien the will to peace will preuominate." ]\Irs. Gordon told many stories about the conference, describing the many interesting subjects which were discussed, and also the wonderful women who were among tbe deiegates, their knowledge being so great that one often tliought of the saying, "And still tho wonder grew how one small head could carry all she knew." It was most interesting to learn that tbe next Pan-Pacific Conference was to be held in New Zealand, probably in Wellington, in 1940. Mrs. Gordon said that at tbe recent. conference there were seven topics for discussion, some having sub-divisions, and as a week or a fortnight could be spent discussing each, it was decided to have just two main topics at the 1940 conference. "The first of these sounds rather uninviting," continued the speaker, "but it is not really so, it being the economic interdependence of nations on each other in countries which surround the Pacific. This subject lends itself to many branches of discussion, including the products, the standards of living, raw materials, tariffs, tlie people who produce the products, exchange, etc. - "The second topic, for discussion is the cultural contributions of tlie Pacific countries, each country having its own particular culture, ideals, health schemes, education, drama, .'dancing, folk songs, lore, tradition and so on." Mrs. Gordon said that the members of the federated women's clubs should give these subject* ©onsideratiott and • b * to tnke a iwpssary and inter-

ested part in such discussions. She said that New Zealand was allowed 25 deiegates to the conference, which was a glorious opportunity to increase friendship, cdmradeship and acquaintanceship with the women of pthpr lands, In conclusion, Mrs. Gordon said: "It ia not a question of 'if' the time ever ' comes when women combine solely and simply :for humanity — the .time lias come now." When thanking Mrs. Gordon for her address, Mrs. T. H. Lowry said that all who had heard her had gained much and all had greatly appreciated the talk.