By 1964 the trend towards self-searching
already revealed at Victoria Falls in 1961
had gathered impetus but with a difference.
Previously, meetings of all kinds had worked
on objectives and then on the means of realising
them; now the emphasis was on the capacity
of the membership itself to rise to these
objectives and appreciate what these objectives
would mean to future generations. The extent
of the responsibility beginning to accrue
from the results of the Federation's work
over the last thirty-four years called for
some realistic thinking.
The
Prime Minister of Australia, the Right Honourable
Sir Robert Menzies, went straight to the
heart of the matter. He opened the meeting
of the Board of Directors held at the Hotel
Rex-at-Canberra on April 20, 1964 by referring
to the theme of the Meeting "Decade
of Opportunity" and saying that it
is a splendid theme because it is constructive.
As an international body he recognized that
the Federation's members came from a variety
of countries, some old in self-government,
some new in independence and self-government.
On the subject of women taking a hand in
politics, Sir Robert said he would be most
astounded to discover that there was any
more unanimity of view among ten women than
there is among ten men. Above all else,
he emphasised people's obligation to understand
the structure of Government; he described
and compared the systems of government of
the United Kingdom, a Constitutional Monarchy,
with the federal system of the United States,
noting that Australia's government had some
similarities to the U.S. He went on to say
that if women wanted to become knowledgeable
in their approach to political activity,
the beginning of wisdom was to understand
the system of Government in their own countries,
and something of the comparative systems
of government in the world. In that way,
they would be spared confusion, he said,
and occasionally a certain amount of ill
temper. He believed that too many people
neglect that first lesson.
Sir
Robert's address followed a welcome to the
Federation by Mr. W. I. Byrne, Chairman
of the Australian Capital Territory Advisory
Council.
Miss
Helen G. Irwin, making her Presidential
address, with over 100,000 miles of travel
in visiting Federations in Europe and the
United States behind her, asked, "What
of the future of our Federation?" Answering
her own question she said its foundation
had been well laid; to some degree the means
of implementation had been realized through
the United Nations, the I.L.O. and members'
various governments. The meaning of citizenship
was the Federation's next task, and the
challenge was to find ways to use the vote
to support agreements within the framework
of the U.N. in order to help settle political
problems which stand as a threat to the
future of every business and professional
woman in the world. Women were the potential
untapped source of skills needed in the
drive to raise standards of living and deal
with problems relating to the ever increasing
world population. Touching on the subject
of automation, Miss Irwin said Business
and Professional Federations should be alerting
members to the need for new training opportunities.
Standards were needed in newer countries
where women were just coming into the labour
market so that they should not be exploited.
Cultural
activity was the Federation's third field
where old goals needed new emphasis. Commenting
on there having been eight applicants from
Pakistan for the last U.N. Fellowship, Miss
Irwin pointed out that each of them was
highly trained and held an important position
in her community, yet these were far parts
of the world where only a few years ago
women were behind the veil and in seclusion.
It
was a rousing Address in preparation for
the study in still greater depth of the
nature of the Federation and the potentialities
of its members.
At
this time a situation arose outside the
Federation which affected the National Federation
of Business and Professional Women of Rhodesia
and Nyasaland. They petitioned to dissolve.
This did not mean withdrawal, but a reorganisation
into three separate units, necessitated
by territorial changes in the British Commonwealth.
This historic Resolution, unanimously carried,
read:
That
this Board accept in principle the dissolution
of the National Federation of Business and
Professional Women of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
and accept the Associations of Business
and Professional Women in Northern Rhodesia
(now Zambia), Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe),
and Nyasaland (now Malawi), so that the
Business and Professional Women of these
three territories may continue without interruption
their affiliation to the International Federation
of Business and Professional Women.
Among
the business handled at Canberra, we find
a close look being taken at membership at
all levels - Club, State and National. It
produced some thought-provoking aspects
including the suggestion that the image
presented as Business and Professional Women
was not attractive to the public, and it
was debatable whether saturation point had
not been reached in the issue of questionnaires.
Some important documents including the constitution
were now issued in French as well as English
and a translation of the bylaws had been
made for Venezuela. Widening Horizons was
being printed in English and French and
in some issues in German as well. In fact
requests for other languages were frequently
received but the granting of them was of
course dependent upon funds being available.
"Opportunities
of the Decade," was the title under
which Miss Jean Arnot, Head Cataloguer of
the Public Library of New South Wales, and
a Past President of the Australian Federation,
gave the keynote Address at the Seminar.
In
a long talk, packed with interesting facts,
comment, and quotations, she drew attention
to international categorical pronouncements
that all barriers based on sex must be removed,
starting with the Treaty of Versailles in
1919, followed by the United Nations Charter
(1945), the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (1948), the I.L.O. Convention 100
(1951), and two Resolutions of the U.N.
General Assembly (1963). While referring
to many books written on this subject she
quoted Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique
as saying that in a well-known journal read
by 5,000,000 American women, there "is
no mention of great happenings in the world."
The question leaps to the mind-Can they
be blamed if they appear "to shun responsibility?"
Is it not rather that they have not been
encouraged to know what it is? The "wastage
of talent by shortsighted and calamitous
neglect of professionally qualified women,"
to quote Sir Fred Schonell, Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Queensland, is one
of those things that Business and Professional
Clubs everywhere were intended to seek to
correct. The theme for International Night
this year was, "The full development
of human resources," a title which
gave plenty of scope for studying how to
overcome the alleged indifference of women
to matters of world significance.
As
Miss Alice Fenwick pointed out, the United
Nations depended completely upon the support
and aid of nongovernmental organisations
like the International Federation in carrying
out its projects. She congratulated the
Federation on all it had already achieved.
Miss Fenwick who was making her address
on the theme of "the United Nations"
was formerly Deputy Chief of the Commission
on the Status of Women Section of the U.N.
This must have recompensed, in some measure,
the Federation's United Nations Committee
and Subcommittees, and Mrs. Esther W. Hymer,
its permanent representative at the U.N.,
for a great deal of work. Nine Federations
made excellent reports on two work projects
developed by the W.H.O. Subcommittee-one
on preventive action for mental health in
relation to contemporary civilisation, and
the other on the appointment of women to
medical posts.
"U.N.
News and Views," a newsletter edited
by Mrs. Hymer, had been of great assistance
to Clubs in developing their programmes.
A background paper, pertinent to the subject
dealt with, had accompanied each issue.
No. 10 was particularly concerned with the
U.N. Seminar in Bogotá, Colombia,
in 1963, which showed that legislation regulating
family law did not conform to the principles
of equality, and progress towards reform
is slow. This was the third seminar in a
series that began in Bucharest, Rumania,
and Tokyo, Japan. The International Federation
had been represented at them all. In Bangkok,
at a session of U.N.I.C.E.F., the Federation
had been represented by Mrs. T. Abed, member
of the Dacca Club in East Pakistan.
As
a result of what is described above, attendance
at many meetings, and the conducting of
surveys by the Federation, Consultative
Status was renewed in both Category B of
the Economic and Social Council and of the
U.N.I.C.E.F. Board. The consensus of opinion
disclosed by two questionnaires circulated
to its member Federations was that greater
effort should be made by those in industrialised
countries to help the women in countries
just beginning the process of industrialisation.
A resolution to this effect, including direct
exchange between individual business and
professional women for studying home and
working conditions in their respective countries
was carried by a vote of 15 for, nil against,
but with 7 abstentions. One Resolution in
similar vein on Engineering projects contained
a clause, that consideration should be given
from planning stage to completion, towards
employing these systems and services in
alleviating domestic hardships (such as
water-carrying, fuel-gathering and processing).
Mention should also be made of two resolutions
- (1) against the loaded question which
influenced replies that preserved traditional
ideas, and (2) that a clause in the Draft
Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination
against women on which nongovernmental organisations
had been asked by the General Assembly to
comment, should call for the same educational
opportunities for women and not "equivalent"
as stated in conventions.
The
Legislation Committee had been asking members
about legislation on equal pay in their
countries. Replies from sixteen countries
showed much the same picture - partial equality,
or equality in principle, but in practice,
subject to what might be described as ingenious
loopholes such as in Australia, where equal
pay could be lost if the employer could
prove that the work was now "suitable
for females," or Canada where the onus
was on the employee to complain in the event
of a breach of the Act which they were naturally
reluctant to do for fear of the consequences.
Social
Events
At
the opening were Dame Pattie Menzies who
gave a Reception that evening at the Rex-at-Canberra
Hotel including Ambassadors, High Commissioners,
the Member of Parliament for the A.C.T.
and Miss Betty Belson, British Trade Commissioner.
The Governor General of Australia, the Rt.
Hon. Lord De L'Isle and Dudley, V.C., P.C.,
G.C.M.G., under whose patronage they were
meeting, sent "warmest good wishes
for a completely successful meeting"
and his regrets that he could not be present
as originally planned. Mr. and Mrs. W. I.
Byrne gave a Civic Welcome at the Hotel
and this was followed by a Presentation
of Wool Fashions sponsored by the Australian
Wool Board. Doctor Allan Vickers, Medical
Superintendent of the famous Royal Flying
Doctor Service of Australia, Queensland
Section, described its work and showed a
documentary film entitled, "Hobbies
on the Bush."
At
the Banquet, Miss Betty Belson, holding
the unusual position for a woman of British
Trade Commissioner, toasted the International
Federation, and Miss Irwin, The Commonwealth
of Australia.
But
perhaps none drew a more pronounced response
than Sir John Crawford, C.B.E., Director
of the Research School of Pacific Studies,
Australian National University.
He
said, "It will be a waste of talent
and resources if we fail to use women who
do acquire skills; it will be no less a
waste if we fail to train and equip girls
and women in the skills we need in our growing
economy. . . Don't let anything stop you
from exerting steady and sustained pressure
to ensure a more rational use of the great
economic resource you represent." After
considering some of the changes taking place
in Australia's awareness of the vast problem
of raising living standards from near starvation
in many areas of Asia, Sir John said he
knew "of no greater force than women,
whose influence is exercised in the home,
in educational institutions, in factory
and office and, increasingly as articulate
voters in the electorate. . . Women are,
more than they know perhaps, the keepers
of our collective conscience." He urged
the Federation to sponsor and encourage
those in their communities seeking answers
to the great world problems.
On what better note
could this account of the Canberra Board
Meeting close.
Finance
is beautiful only to the eyes of finance
fanciers. To the average member of most
organisations it is a bore and an intrusion
into the enjoyment of their membership.
Among women there is, too very often, some
fundamental resistance to spending money
on intangibles. The Federation had entered
that phase which all growing organisations
must endure. It is the moment when expansion
creates additional expense in administration
and activities before the expansion is big
enough to bring in extra funds to absorb
it.
In
spite of higher costs and greater volume
of work which was making almost unreasonable
demands upon a very small staff in inadequate
office and storage accommodation, an increase
of the 15c. per capita Dues had been rejected
at Oslo in 1962. Mrs. Van Gorp who had been
Honorary Treasurer for six years, and the
Finance Chairman, Miss Margaret McIrvine,
pressed home some hard facts at the Congress
at Washington in 1965. Her very full notes
and specimen Budgets made illuminating reading.
They convinced Congress and an increase
in Dues to 25c per capita was approved to
start from April I, 1967. By this means
on an estimated membership of 230,000 (in
March 31, 1964, it was 230,241), and an
income of $60,000, there would be no deficit
and a cause of great anxiety, because of
the previous three years drain on reserves,
was removed. The $10 Dues for Associate
Clubs remained as before.
The
International Delegates Fund established
in Helsinki in 1949 received fifteen requests
for help in sending Delegates to Washington.
These had been granted three quarters of
the cost of transportation for one delegate
each which had meant a disbursement of $10,045
or slightly more than one third of the amount
in the Fund. Not all Federations had subscribed
to it. For a Table showing mileage and cost
of travel for one delegate from her own
capital city to Washington (fares quoted
in U.S. dollars) on basis of rates for July,
1964, see Appendix
5. The figures were provided
by the Ottawa Office of BOAC.
On
a motion from Australia, it was decided
that no further disbursements should be
made from the capital of this Fund. As the
new 25c. Dues would not operate until 1967,
it was further agreed in principle to a
Delegates' Fund on a levy basis, the Executive
to have responsibility for implementing
this. Miss McIrvine said the Lights-Up Fund
of £5,000 collected by Great Britain
during the 1939-45 War, in appreciation
of the Federations in the United States
and Canada which had paid for organising
Clubs in Great Britain, had been used in
giving assistance to Austria, Australia,
Belgium, Cuba, Southern Rhodesia and Turkey.
There was $1,400 left in the fund. In the
Lena Madesin Phillips Endowment Fund of
which $800 had been made available for Miss
Tomlinson's second trip to the Middle East
in late 1964, there was a balance of some
$7,000. The Silver Jubilee Fund memorial
to Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips for work in
other areas than the Middle East, stood
at $6,000. Some $15,000 could therefore
be available for expansion without disturbing
the General Funds of the Federation.
Miss
Sally Butler, who had taken on the unexpired
term of Miss Katherine Peden's Chairmanship
of the Membership Committee, had some encouraging
news to give. She reported applications
for affiliation had been received and approved
by the Board from National Federations in
Nigeria, Greece, the Republic of Ireland,
Rhodesia, and Zambia and also as Associates,
from the following Business and Professional
Clubs: El Quetzal (Guatemala), Lima (Peru),
Blantyre-Limbe (Malawi), Iran (Teheran)
and West Bengal, Eastern India, West Bengal
(Calcutta). Recommending that the Membership
Committee should have an active member in
each country where there is a Federation,
Miss Butler said she believed such members
could go "far in making the work of
the Membership Committee more effective."
Another way to do this and avoid overlapping
each other's work was suggested by Miss
C. Louise Card, Chairman of the Membership
Development Committee. This Subcommittee
presented a detailed programme of action
for development as a follow up to the formation
of Clubs and Federations and suggested merging
into the main Committee. It was virtually
impossible to set up promotional material
for use at International level because every
country is different but an "ideas
exchange library" of promotional material
that might be adapted to each country's
needs, could be helpful. Miss Butler allowed
a shade of reproof to creep in when she
said that from her observation "Members
of the International Federations do not
take their membership seriously enough."
The
difficulties of producing a magazine within
the radius of the International membership
was no new problem. The (ad hoc) Advisory
Committee Chairman, Miss Patience Thoms,
and the Editor, Miss Isabel MacMillan, had
been reorganising the business side and
increasing the interest of Widening Horizons.
The greater use of illustrations added $200.00
to the year's budget but the greater attraction
with wider editorial coverage, matched this
increased cost. Its potentialities were
not yet fully understood but this would
change it was hoped and result in a longer
subscription list if National Federations
gave it more publicity.
The
International Theme for the celebration
of International Night everywhere had in
the past been chosen annually. It was now
realised that communications were not always
quick enough for many member Federations
to do justice to any theme in depth. The
decision to choose one for a three-year
period had been made at Canberra.
At
Congress in Washington the theme, "The
Challenge of a Changing World," was
chosen, to be developed over three years:
1966, in Education and Training; 1967, in
Employment; and 1968, in Community Life.
It had been evident, reported Miss Jessie
Marian Robertson, Chairman of the Theme
(ad hoc) Committee, from suggestions sent
in that the feeling was still to participate
in the recognised programmes and plans of
the U.N. Agencies. Particular stress was
laid on International Cooperation Year and
the coming Human Rights Year. It is impossible
not to have some sympathy for this Committee's
feeling of frustration when suggested themes
are sent in with a note saying, "This
should not be sent forward officially,"
which as Miss Robertson said, "leaves
an odd feeling that one is in doubt about
submitting the idea at all."
The Washington Congress
produced for the benefit of its large assembly,
a number of guest speakers of the highest
calibre. There is, alas, no space to repeat
the wisdom or knowledge displayed by them
all, and to quote at length from one but
leave out others would seem like a discourtesy
no one would want to perpetrate.
How
to choose between Dr. John H. Furbay (author
and editor), with his exposition of "two-thirds
of the human race now emerging as civilized
- repeating the process of imitation, assimilation
and a creative burst," and the point
pressed by Mr. Chakravarthi Narasimnan (Under
Secretary for General Assembly Affairs and
Chief of the Cabinet, United Nations), that
"the issue had become the survival
of the human race;" between The Honourable
Esther Peters en (Assistant Secretary of
Labour and Special Assistant to the President
of the United States for Consumer Affairs),
who said "women's rights were meaningless
unless they turned their energies to enhancing
the dignity of others," and Dr. Theresa
Wolfson ( Professor of Economics), "The
struggle was not easy, sometimes one step
back for every two steps forward,"
and Dr. Nancy Roman (Chief of Astronomy,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Washington, D.C), on two things women had
to do - 1) become educated citizens - in
this modem age it meant education in at
least the basic facts of science and technology,
and 2) to encourage their daughters to learn
science if they had the aptitude."
Her familiarity with the heavens (as an
astronomer) lifted everyone at least temporarily
into them.
Back
on earth again, Employment Conditions and
an I.L.O. "Information Meeting"
in 1964 at Geneva were discussed. The Federation
had been represented by Miss Th. C. Van
der Ent, (Chairman) and Miss Andree Travelletti.
Miss Van der Ent said the Federation's contribution
was much appreciated by I.L.O. Officers,
a proof of how worthwhile it is for National
Federations to answer the questionnaires
periodically sent to them.
The
Federation had been represented at all the
U.N.E.S.C.O. Meetings to which it had been
invited. When its new Subcommittee Chairman,
Mme. Y. Cordillot, had been unable to go,
her place had been taken by its former Chairman,
Mme. Tiers. Twice the Federation had been
elected a member of the Committee of Nongovernmental
Agencies to which Group only 12 members
out of 140 Agencies are admitted. A report
subsequently sent to National Federations
dwelt particularly on the school and extracurricular
education in Africa, for which a request
was being made for Assistance by nongovernmental
organisations having Federations on that
Continent. The objective was to recruit
personnel able to assist in the immense
work that had to be undertaken. From a "Special
Fund" of U.N.E.S.C.O., $1,400 were
for women's organizations - 1,000 technical
studies and almost half as many again for
young artists and writers. Several such
Scholarships had been held in recent years
by members of the Federation. U.N.E.S.C.O.
provided the opportunity for practical action
to which women rise most readily. So Madame
Cordillot was able to report that the National
Federation in Africa (South-West) had aided
35 girls in completing higher studies at
the University. Other Federations had given
effective help in many ways. They ranged
from hospitality in members' own homes to
holders of U.N.E.S.C.O. Scholarships, to
distribution of information covering occupations
from domestic work to highly specialised
professions.
The
W.H.O. Subcommittee, chaired by Dr. Irene
Bernard since the death of Dr. Schreiner-Bienert
in an accident, had been much encouraged
by the variety of valuable information sent
by Federations.
At
this time the International Federation's
own Fellowship was under revision so that
its opportunities should be more widely
distributed and flexibility maintained.
In 1965, when the number of candidates was
very small, the $1,000 was applied to a
Seminar in Northern Europe, held in the
English language. Miss Van der Ent, Employment
Conditions Chairman, organised it in Amsterdam
from March 25 to 28 and it was attended
by members from eleven countries. Dr. Angiola
Denti di Pirajno, chairman, reported most
satisfactory results in the study of the
changing conditions of women's work.
"Women
all over the world are preparing themselves
with dignity and competence to assume the
new responsibilities devolving upon them,"
said Her Imperial Majesty Farah Pahlavi,
the Shahanoo of Iran, at the opening of
the 18th Session of the Commission on the
Status of Women held in the ancient City
of Teheran. The International Federation's
views were directly represented by Mrs.
Esther Hymer and Dr. Kechkinneh Kazimi,
President of the Teheran Club. It is interesting
to note that among the delegates and representatives
to the Commission from other countries,
several were also members of the International
Federation. How slow are the processes that
shape our end is evident in the fact that
the Convention guaranteeing the right to
vote, to hold office and to exercise all
public functions, adopted in 1932 had been
ratified by only forty-four countries' governments.
Federations were urged to press their governments
to ratify where they had not already done
so and to submit the names of qualified
women as candidates for the U.N. Fellowships.
Under whatever headings the discussion went,
the real need which seemed to emerge was
education at all levels.
Recognising
the importance of creating a settled public
opinion in favour of the equal responsibility
of men and women for society, Congress passed
a resolution from the Swedish Federation
urging members to investigate whether textbooks
on the functions of modern society are kept
in conformity with this belief, and to undertake
the work of pointing out to authorities
concerned, conditions that might not be
acceptable in this respect, with the request
to have them changed.
Summing
up a panel discussion held on the Sunday
before Congress opened, Miss Margaret Hickey,
a Past President of the American Federation,
had said "each one of us must take
on her own share of the burden of pain which
lies heavily upon the heart of the world.
Thus far the language of diplomacy has failed
to span the dread void separating nations.
We must look to a diplomacy of people to
establish meaningful communications."
The
practice of holding Seminars had been growing
among National Federations. Also the exchange
of guests between countries was increasing.
These developments and scholarships such
as those provided by the U.S.A., Great Britain
and Canada for their own members to study
outside their own environment the work of
U.N. Agencies, were most valuable. Members
on return to their homeland were in much
demand for talks to local Clubs.
This
Congress in Washington had opened with the
International Federation President, Miss
Helen G. Irwin, being escorted to the rostrum
by Senators B. B. Hicken-Looper and Jack
Miller from her home town of Iowa. The President
of the United States of America, Mr. Lyndon
B. Johnson, was represented by Mrs. Gladys
Tillet who said that President Johnson "believed
in the purposes for which the Federation
was founded." These purposes were "contributing
toward the just and peaceful world we all
seek," said a message from the Secretary
of State, the Hon. Dean Rusk.
 A
programme of entertainment was given one
evening sponsored by the Hostess Federation.
Miss Katherine Peden, one of its Past Presidents,
acting as master of ceremonies, introduced
a talented team of artists.
The
Banquet, presided over by Miss Irwin, was
held at the Sheraton Park Hotel with traditional
splendour. Brigadier General Duke welcomed
everyone to Washington on behalf of the
Capital's Board of Commissioners. Many toasts
were drunk with enthusiasm, the formal one
to the President of the United States being
proposed by Miss Irwin, to the International
Federation by Madame Kraemer Bach with Mrs.
Van Gorp responding, and to the United States
of America by Miss Elisabeth Feller. This
last named toast was replied to by the Guest
Speaker, the Hon. Harlan Cleveland, Assistant
Secretary of State for International Organisation
Affairs.
Mr.
Cleveland began by saying he hoped the visitors
"would not find Americans as confusing
as Americans found themselves." Referring
to the "most persistent of myths,"
that the U.S.A. was a "great melting
pot," he said, "people coming
to it grouped together in distinct culture
groups for protection against those who
had already arrived and those who kept pouring
in. In the process all learned a certain
tolerance. . . a harder lesson because it
meant learning the value of difference."
The International Federation of Business
and Professional Women, Mr. Cleveland affirmed,
was one of the first organisations to establish
a liaison relationship with the United Nations
and "Mrs. Hymer had long been one of
the most effective people among the representatives
of non governmental organisations at the
United Nations."
The
election of Officers brought the Presidency
to Great Britain for the second time, Lady
Littlewood being elected unopposed. Miss
Irwin, now making her honourable retirement
to Past President, handed over to Lady Littlewood
the handsome badge and chain of office worn
for the first time in Washington. It was
the gift of Dr. Anna Watson of Belfast,
Northern Ireland, to be held in Trust as
the President's symbol of office in the
years ahead. |
