STORM AT CONFERENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 437, 20 August 1928, Page 9

STORM AT CONFERENCE

PAN-PACIFIC DELEGATES AT VARIANCE “FLAPPERS” NOT DENOUNCED (United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press HONOLULU. Saturday. A storm was aroused in the Women's Pan-Pacific conference over a cable message sent by Mrs. Robertson to the Sydney “Sun,” in which she quoted Dr. Staley as having denounced “flappers.” Indignant denials followed, Dr. Staley asserting that she never said it. As the round table sessions were closed to the Press, it was impossible to check the report directly, but Mrs. Robertson, being an accredited delegate, was present. Her notes show the statements as sent, but these were probably over-emphasised by the absence of the context. Independent correspondents express little doubt that something of the kind was said, and they point out that the occurrence illustrates the folly of barring he sessions to the general Press. At to-day’s session the section on Government, in which the Australian and New Zealand delegates took a prominent part, evolved the following general principles of importance: First, political education; second, the necessity for women to analyse Governmental institutions; third, the application of the principle of the League of Nations; fourth, the inclusion of women on the staff of the League; fifth, equality of opportunity and remuneration of women in Government service; sixth, the study of nomenclature in all the Englishspeaking lands; seventh, greater interest in world affairs; eighth, the promotion of legislation for the protection of women and children in industry; ninth, the enforcement of the laws affecting social morality; tenth, legislation safeguarding health; eleventh, activity in promoting the understanding of the work of the League of Nations; twelfth, recommendations for study, rather than resolutions for support. SELECTION OF FILMS The Australian, American and Philippine Islands delegations resolved to protest against the sending to their countries of American moving pictures depicting scenes of vice and crime. Before adjourning the conference adopted another resolution, to be sent to the directors of the British film industry, requesting that only films reflecting the best social and moral standards be sent to the Pacific countries. Another resolution recommended following the League’s recomj mendations for the suppression of the traffic in women, and the extension of the investigation of that subject by the League to Pacific countries. Miss Eleanor Hinder, an Australian delegate from Shanghai, was retained as permanent continuation secretary, with headquarters at Honolulu, to coordinate the activities of the groups in various countries. The next conference will be held in China or Japan in 1930. most probably at Shanghai. Mrs. Hume Ford said it was the most significant and farreaching conference ever held in Hawaii. Most of the New Zealand delegates 1 will sail on August 29.