was the crying need in the undeveloped countries as in some lands 
     
     91% of the population was illiterate. Sanitation was most primitive 
     
     and resulted in a high death rate. Living standards were unbeliev- 
     
     ably low, many in India having no homes and sleeping on the streets 
     
     in the cities. 
     
    

    
     One Indian delegate said that much as they valued the assist- 
     
     ance given under the Columbo Plan (to which Canada contributes) 
     
     more lasting help could be given by taking students from these coun- 
     
     tries, educating them to Western standards and then returning them 
     
     to their home lands to teach their own people. 
     
    

    
     Australian delegates gave a moving account of Institute work. 
     
     So many of their members live on huge sheep ranches miles from 
     
     their neighbours that communication is one of their biggest problems. 
     
     They have worked out a system by which through a pedal contrap- 
     
     tion they could generate power enough to contact other house wives, 
     
     exchange recipes, woman talk and make life more enjoyable. 
     
    

    
     Institute organizations in Australia have set up homes in 
     
     large cities where women can go and stay until the expected birth of 
     
     a child and of course the Flying Doctor service is unique. 
     
    

    
     The United Nations recognized the A.C.W.W. by sending per- 
     
     sonnel to address us on the activities of U.N.E.S.C.O., WHO. and 
     
     F.A.O. 
     
    

    
     Especially interesting was the work of the World Health Or— 
     
     ganization who have largely been able to wipe out malaria in the 
     
     tropical regions. Yaws and other widespread diseases have been 
     
     brought under control and powdered milk has been available through 
     
     children’s programs. 
     
    

    
     The F.A.O. (Food and Agricultural Organization) has intro- 
     
     duced better seed varieties to increase crops, sent over tractors and 
     
     equipment to make farm products more to meet the requirements of 
     
     the people but a Continuing up surge in population makes raising the 
     
     standard of living a difficult proposition. 
     
    

    
     Our own problems seemed to shrink as we came aware of the 
     
     sheer necessities of other peoples. As I said earlier, twelve years 
     
     have passed and during that time our contributions to the Columbo 
     
     Plan have been greatly increased but the need and the urgency 
     
     remain. We must continue to give all the help we can both through 
     
     our government and on an individual basis through the various 
     
     agencies — including Care to which we can subscribe. 
     
    
   
   
    
     "' 5': * * * 
     
    
   
   
    
     “WITH ACWW IN TORONTO” 
     
    
   
   
    
     August 11-22, 1953 Prepared by Mrs. W. E. MacKinnon 
     
    
   
   
    
     One of the most exciting and unforgettable experiences for the 
     
     delegates who had the privilege, pleasure and responsibility of re- 
     
     presenting the P.E.I. Women’s Institutes was meeting, mingling and 
     
     making friends with women from all over the world —— women like 
     
     ourselves with the same aims and objectives. Now, when we think 
     
     of “Faraway places” with strange sounding names they are not 
     
    
   
   
    
     strange —— they are people.” 
     
     —- 131 —