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HOME and COUNTRY Published by The Ontario Women's Institutes at Toronto, Ontario Volume 5 ' FALL, 1939 Number 4 The Triennial Conference Associated Country Women of the World SCANDINAVIAN DELEGATES On a bright May morning I found myself waving goodbye to a bit of Ontario on the New York pier, as the “Queen Mary” slowly and majesti- cally left the New York harbour. Im- mediately I realized I was bound for an international conference with 340 delegates from the United States and Canada. What an eager group we wereâ€"many of us on our first sea voyageâ€"anxious to do the right thing and interested in our cabin mates, delegates from east, west, north and south, and in every nook and corner of the ship. Soon Nebraska or Ohio were talking to New Bruns- wick; Ontario to Kentucky, Wiscon- sin or Vermont; and so our internat- innal conference had really started. On board, Americans and Canadians attended special meetings arranged by Miss Grace E. Frysiiiger of Washâ€" ington, D.C., Vice-President for North America. Here we became better acquainted, learned more about our respective countries, considered some of the customs of our host country and made final plans for the confer- ence. In five short days land was sighted and soon we were docking at South- ampton and entraining for London. How eagerly we scanned the land- scape for those English hedges, green fields, thatched roofs, beautiful gar- dens and cattle pasturing in fields‘. And just at midnight with moon over- head we were on London Bridge with the Houses of Parliament and City of London before us. What a joy on registration to be greeted by some of the 1936 Wash- ington Conference visitors to Ontario â€"‘\lrs. Watt, Mrs. Drage, Lady Eleaâ€" Mr Cole, Mrs. Russell, Miss Franks and Mrs. Alexander,â€"with their kindly enquiries for Ontario friends and pleasant recollections of their visit. 32 Nations Convene Central Hall, Westminster, and streets leading up to it took on a "cry festive appearance as women from 32 countries, many in native costume, arrived at the conference. Gay Colourful costumes with charac- teristic ornaments and head dress mingled with smart modern clothesâ€" Latvian women with striped peasant skirts exqui ter embroidered white linen blouses, amber beads, heavy “Sak’ta” (flannel cape) and most elab- orate crystal and silver embroidered crowns; a Yugoslavian in peasant starb wearing a yulik (a cloak), a family heirloom a century old, em- broidered in real gold and silver; delegates from Calcutta charming in their gorgeous silk sari; the Scandiâ€" navmns with simple costumes with Mes. ALFRED \VATT, O.B.E., President, opening the Triennial Conference of the A.C.\V.W., London, England, May 30, 1939. traditional embroidery and ornaments according to country and district within that country, garments of handwoven wool or linen material and always most beautiful; the Germans in simple peasant style of dress in a lovely blue: the Estonians with colâ€" ourful costumes with long full skirts, ornate pennants and long necklaces, Amidst hum of conversation in many languages, with order and precision, the delegates were given allotted places in readiness for the trumpet note proclaiming the opening of the Triennial Conference of The Associ- ated Country Women of the World. Miss Marie New, native daughter of New Zealand and a well-known Lonâ€" don actress, dramatically presented the Prologue~The Epic of the Coun- try Womanâ€"written by Margaret Stanley-Wrench. Our Ontario Mrs. Alfred Watt, now resident in London, President of the Associated Country Women of the World, in three lane guages, French, German and Eng lish, declared that the Congress was open. She said “We are here from the ends of the earth, different in race, creed and national loyalties, but united in our common purpose to help one another. What we say and what we do will affect homes and home- makers in all the world’s country- side." _ It was a memorable afternoon With ofiicial welcomes from His Majesty‘s government and from Lady Dennam, Chairman of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes of England and Wales; and greetings from official delegates each speaking ‘her own language and wearing national cos- tume. Mrs. Watt struck a note of.optii_u- ism and progress in her presidential address. Membership and new socie- ties had increased since the Washing- ton conference, horizons had widened, respect and tolerance for others were more and more recognized, and coiin- try Women of the world were seeking that leadershi and education which will make t em more intelligent homemakers and citizens. World friendship had increased through the Association as thousands of local organizations, institutes and home bureaus had communicated With simi- lar bodies in other countries. "This means", she said, "that no one need ever be wilhout a friend in another land. She has but to extend a hand". \Vorld Changesithe widening of huâ€" man knowledge, economic problems and adjustments, applied science in homes and on farmsimust be recog- nized by country \\ omen. Her resume of her world tour thrilled us with pride in the accomplishments of orâ€" ganizations in various countries, make ing us feel at the same time the trev mendous importance of the individual member's contribution to the whole national movement. Mrs. Watt com- mended them on solving race prob, lems, on the intelligent promotion of improved methods in agriculture, on their capacity for world leadership. and paid special tiibutc to trained minds of Norway, culture in Sweden, and to Denmark and New Zealond, the best organized agricultural coun- tries On every occasion one heard grati- tude expressed for peace l'll’lll earnest searching for means of maintaining peace. “Not alone by peace pro- grammes hut also in the hearts and everyday life, in homes, in associa- tions in the country and in the world. This will bring up a generation with a peace outlook~tliis spirit lies in every human soul if you want to use it.” “Women interested in world affairs are a factor, and a new one, every- where making for peace. Our co- operation in world ailairs, whether it be as country women, as journalists, as politicians, as writers or as preach~ ers, will make, and does make every- where I hope, for kindlincss of feel- ing, for justice, for a determination that our fellow men and women in every country who have the same needs as ourselves shall be given equal chances of satisfying them. For we know that the ordinary life of the ordinary people is the same everywhere, that it is true of everyâ€" one. whether he comes from the east or the west, the north or the south, that, in the words of Rudyard Kip» ling: 'His Gods are as his faith opine His prayers are all the world's ~and mine.’ Films of work of country Womenâ€" "Motherhood in Wales”, “Vegetable Storage and Preservation of Food in LATVIAN lll‘iLl-‘JJATILS Germany", “Work of .llal‘thas in I’lnA land", "Life in Netlierlands"â€" w warts on administration of Health Strvict-s in llurul Al'clis by Latvia, lrL-luiiul, Tasmania and tho United States, made us realize again hon akin no llll‘ the world over. While our needs, pi‘nllr lciiis and interests vary with ira i- tions, climate, customs and economic conditions lelll all iiiUSt solve their particular problems according to these circumstances. “hut country i-mnen are doing in uthwr ruunt and how they do it. is alw-ii's of n st iiitvrest to us. From [In we ma) see our own needs nml clearly, find ways .iml means of meeting them and, what is tremendously important. he are gaining an uiiilt . anding of their way of livini: :nnl vlL-VL-lopln‘: appu- ciatmn, respi-cl. (“lemme and admir- ntmn for them. Division of labour in Sweden may mean liglllt‘l‘lll’llz‘ the liurxluii of women's work in llic field whi-i'u ill the past, according to tradition linked with religion, wi-mcn sowed the grain to assure .'i good L‘l'up There, as in other European countries. men were employed at lIllL' tulle in forest, on sea, and elsvwlicl‘c and women of necessity assiimml responsih'l t ' {or farm work. Now many of Hit woun- tries are desirous of lessening \vn- iiicn‘s work in the field and are inn-Y- PSLL‘LI with coiinlri‘uomcn throuirliuut the world in improving \i'urkliiu Conâ€" ditiuns in the home. Scnndi ’l\'i3|'| countries and American alil are working to extend electrical s 'vicos in the farm house. Sweden now establishing community wn. lug machines and niukincr them n\' in certain Centres hy means of truck service or by permanent location in one central place. f‘nnimun pruirlmm, common interests and similar roccd- urcs were noted throughout (lie disâ€" cussions on such practical tnpics as Family Co-operatiun, Education Ser- vices in Rural D' riots, Trainincr and Work of Ol‘L’fll Linn Workers and Planning for Leisure Goals of the Association Dr. Ruby Green Smith of the United States gave an interpretation of the goals of the Associated Coun- try Woiiien of the World in the fol~ lowing concrete form: To promote international underâ€" standing and respect through friend- ships; to create mutual appreciation of the varied talents and achieve- ments of people of every nation, rec- ognizing that each of their contribu- tions to civilization adds to earth’s charm and beauty and should be preserved and cultivated. To share with the women of other (Continued col. 2, page 3)