PETTICOAT GOVERNMENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 89, 21 May 1914, Page 4

PETTICOAT GOVERNMENT.

Mrs Chapman Catty the noted American feminist, during a recent tour in ; the East to study the position of i Oriental women, discovered a territory I eignt times the size of the Netherlands where the absolute political supremacy of women has been the rule for many ages. The locality is in Sumatra, and the advanced people inhabiting it are known by the name of Menangkaban. The women own the land and houses in this delightful country, family names descend in the female line, and mothers'are the sole guardians of their children. In '' Harper's Magazine'' Mrs Chapman Catt writes as follows: — J 'Marriage is exogamic, and before the of Mohammedanism all husbands doubtless went,to live-in the house of their mothers-in-law, as is the usual custom under the Matriarehate. The polygamy alloAved by Mohammed interfered with this practice, and a curious compromise was effected between these opposing institutions which has permitted both to exist. The polygamous husband now remains in the family of his own mother and merely visits his wife in the home of his mother-in-law. Here he eats and sleeps in the apartment of his wife. In former times, since the women controlled the land and carried the family pocket-book, the husband made no contribution towards the family expenses. Instead, the men were supported by their wives, and received their pocket money as a gift from them. Now many men have attained 'economic independence'through the opening of new occupations and business opportunities brought about by the Duteh occupancy, and such men are expected to bring a gift of food, clothing, or money to their wives upon the occasion of each visit. No law compels this .attention, but popular opinion has thus far done its perfect w T ork, and fiew men'avoid the obligation;"