WOMAN AND PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 153, 28 June 1919, Page 11

WOMAN AND PARLIAMENT.

SIR WM. ERASER'S ANSWER. WILL GIVE NO PLEDGES. Every Minister who visits Auckland just now is put to the question on mc subject of .his attitude towards the admission of women to Parliament, and yesterday afternoon Sir William Fraser ran the gauntlet from a deoutation representing the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women. The Hon. w. J. Oarland introduced the speakers, who were Miss _ Melville, and Mesdames. John Cook and F. E. QJaume. The Minister replied that what the i-nme Minister had promised in Parliament last session about introducing a fill to enable women to sit in Parliament did not pledge any member of the Government save himself, nor were the members of the House committed in any way to vote for such a measure. While admitting that there were plenty ol women who might make just as good members of Parliament as men, he hau grave doubts himself whether such a proposal would be practicable. In support of his argument that the public mind was not yet ready for this step, Mr William pointed to Great Britain, ! which at the last elections had returned J only one woman out of over 700 mem- J bors, while in Australia he did not think J there was any woman legislator. When ' the matter came before Parliament he < would approach it with a fair and open '< mind, but he declined to give any pledges ! on the question. He objected to the ! principle of getting members to pledge \ themselves to a certain course, because ' when the time arrived to vote they might ' be of quite a different mind. The Mm- : ister also declared that had the clause ' inserted on the motion of Mr. McCombs in the Legislative Council Bill last year been retained the only effect would have been to allow women to sit in the Upper Chamber. TJhis and other questions expressed "by the Minister were combatted by Miss Melville, who contended that the public was more advanced on this subject than was realised by Sir William Fraser. As a matter of fact, efforts had been made for nearly a year to get someone to take the negative side in a debate on the question of women being allowed to sit in Parliament, but without success. Sir William: Who would have the temerity to do so? Miss Melville: Surely anyone with the ! courage of his convictions. Sir William: Well, I don't know. I have the courage to r .ase you my pledge, but I certainly would hesitate to take the negative side in such a debate. But you musn't rim away with the idea that I am opposed to this movement. I merely object to pledging myself. And perhaps when the time comes to vote your worst friends will not be among those who refuse to give you pledges.