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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 132, 10 July 1914, Page 6

The Labour Premier of New South Wales stated' in his policy speech that he intended to amend the Constitution Act so as to make women eligible to sit in the State Parliament. When Mr llolman was absent on one occasion in Melbournej his rival, Mr Meagher, put in some good work (for himself) in that secretively autocratic body, the Labour Council. One o„£ the results of this little intrigiie behind the Premier's back was that a deputation of women waited on Mr llolman on his return and received from him the assurance that the fair sex should become eligible to sit in the State House. The New South Wales Liberal Conference has decided that this concession is a desirable one, and, as a matter of fact, a Minister is being opposed for the Newtown (Sydney) constituency by an energetic, lady who hopes to defeat both the Minister and the third candidate —the latter a somewhat vituperative cleric* who has developed a strong tendency towards hysterics over the social sex problem of Sydney. The lady candidate in question is the nominee of the Socialist party, and. is credited with being possessed of unusually high mental attainment. Even so, it wquld be a surprise to see her top the poll. Several thoughtful and highly cultured women workers have met with quite indifferent success in their attempts to enter the Commonwealth Parliament. One, Miss Yida Goldstein, who is a woman much above the average so far as mental training is concerned, has wooed the electors in vain. The publicists are to a certain extent divided on the question as to whether or not womeji should have the .same political opportunities as men. It is quite conceivable that there are isolated instances of women of the masculine type who would add materially to the wisdom of Parliament. Considering the intellectual standard of some of our New Zealand representatives, it would be-a reflection on the sex to denj r their right and their fitness to sit in deliberation with such But the fitness or otherwise of the feminine candidate for Parliamentary work does not really matter. What does matter is that a majority of the electors, men and women,- have thus far withheld their votes from the political feminine, and though Holmans may placate their importunate masters by giving women this opportunity of contesting elections, the court of appeal is the. country. And who shall say nay to the country?