PACIFIC PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1938, Page 8

PACIFIC PROBLEMS

ADDRESS BY MISS ANDREWS FORMATION OF WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION. MOVE TO STRENGTHEN BONDS OF PEACE. A well-attended meeting of representatives of the various women’s organisations in Masterton was held on Saturday evening in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. Mrs C. C. Jackson, vice-chair-man of the New Zealand branch of the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association, was in the chair, and the meeting was addressed by Miss Elsie Andrews, M.8.E., chairman of the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association, and leader of the New Zealand delegation to the 1937 Pan-Pacific Conference at Vancouver.

In introducing Miss Andrews to the meeting, Mrs Jackson congratulated her on the honour recently conferred upon her. Miss I. Tankersley, president of the Masterton branch of the Women Teachers’ Association, presented her with a bouquet.

In replying, Miss Andrews stated that she welcomed the conferring of the M.B.E. for three reasons. First, because she was a woman; secondly, because she was a member of that Cinderella of professions, primary school teaching, and thirdly, because of its effect upon the work to which she was now engaged on behalf of the association.

Miss Andrews spoke of the work and aims of the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association, with which she had been connected ever since the first formation of a New Zealand committee in 1931. She had often been asked what was the meaning of Pan-Pacific. One man had wondered if it had anything to do with cooking! Others thought of it as an association of pacifists. Actually it meant “all the countries bordering on the Pacific Ocean.” New 'Zealand had a special reason to be proud of the formation of the association, for its inception was due to a New Zealander, the late Mr Mark Cohen, said Miss Andrews. Mr Cohen had always believed that women had a great part to play in world affairs. He remembered their ' work in New Zealand, for example, in the establishment of the Plunket Society; and when visiting Honolulu he suggested to Mr Alexander Ford, promoter of the PanPacific Union, that there should be a conference of women in Honolulu. This was the spark that fired the train. A committee of women was set up, who proceeded to make contact with the women of other Pacific countries through the medium of the W.C.T.U. and the Y.W.C.A. The result was the first meeting in August, 1928. The New Zealand delegation of about twelve was headed by Mrs Fraer, of Christchurch, and prominent amongst them were Mrs L. S. Taylor, Miss Chaplin, and Mrs DeAton-Leech.

The function of this first conference was of an exploratory nature, Miss Andrews continued. Its delegates were to report to the different organisations in their countries. The PanPacific Union undertook the heavy expenses of a second conference, and this took place in 1930. The interest taken by the League Secretariat in the proposed association was evidenced by their sending Dame Rachel Crowdy as their representative. The important question was as to the formation of the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association, and after hearing an adon the subject those who had at first opposed the idea changed their views. The Pan-Pacific Women’s Association was formed with two objects: ' (1) To strengthen the bonds of peace among Pacific people, and (2) to initiate and promote co-operation for the improvement of existing conditions in Pacific countries. The formation of the association was only a commencement, said Miss Andrews. There was no easy way to solve international problems. These must be grappled with slowly, carefully, and patiently. There was so much glib criticism, for instance, of the League of Nations today, yet it could not be expected that in a short twenty years it would solve problems that were the growth of centuries of misunderstandings. Yet, as General Smuts had said: “Light having once appeared must never again be allowed to sink below the horizon.” So it was with the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association.

The important thing was first ‘to remove ignorant and distorted misconceptions of other Pacific people, said Miss Andrews. The methods to be adopted were: First, study and gathering of information, and second, triennial conferences where such information was pooled, and inspiration gained by personal contacts. “We be of one blood, those and I,” says the Jungle Book. Similarities were stressed rather than differences. Child welfare, health, education, and, most important of all, peace—these were the subjects of study considered most suitable for women. The third conference was held in Honolulu in 1934, and the fourth in Canada only last year, said Miss Andrews. The next conference was to take place in Wellington in New Zealand’s Centennial year. This would be the first international conference ever held in New Zealand in its 100 years of history. It would be a great opportunity for the women of New Zealand, who in the main suffered from want of contact with the people of other countries. A recent visitor had said of them that they needed to cultivate an international outlook. At this conference there would be two topics only: (1) Economic interde-

pendence, and (2) cultural contributions of Pacific people. The first topic would be under the direction of Miss Josephine Schain, L.L.8., of New York, a woman of great brilliance of mind and breadth of outlook. The second was to be direoted by Mrs Felix Keesing, a New Zealander living in Hawaii, who with her husband, Dr Keesing, had been making , a special study of Pacific social organisations and customs. In the hands of two such women a wealth of results may be looked for.

“The trying time is the time to try,” concluded Miss Andrews, quoting Queen Elizabeth’s words to Girl Guides. Local committees were being set up in the different centres with the object of inaugurating study groups, forwarding donations, and generally stimulating interest in the coming conference.

On the motion of Mrs Fouhy, President of the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association, Miss Andrews was given a very hearty vote of thanks for her inspiring address. It was decided to form a local committee. Miss I. Tankersley, president of the Masterton branch of the Women Teachers’ Association, was appointed to get in touch with other organisations and act as convenor of the committee.