WOMEN AND THE UPPER HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 7

WOMEN AND THE UPPER HOUSE.

MAT NOW BE MINISTERS. BUT NOT :____._ It does not 6eem that politically-minded women in this country are likely to be much put out by the Legislative Council's refusal to admit their sex amongst its members so long as the constitution of the Upper Chamber remains as it now is. An opinion on the matter was sought this -morning from Miss E. Melville, president of the New Zealand National Council of Women. "I don't think that the council's decision is of much practical importance,"' she said, "though it is inconsistent and creates an absurd anomaly. The Council decided in favour of admitting women to the House of Representatives, and yet it does not 1 seemi to consider them St to sit in the ' Upper House. The law -now makes it; possible for a woman to become a Minis- j ter of the Crown, or even Prime Minis-1 ter, for the matter of that. One would: not suppose that greater ability i-s needed in a Legislative Councillor than, in a Minister, but that is what the' Council seems to think. "The Council is very jealot- of its privileges," went en Miss Melville, "but the public generally cares little about them. It is more jealous than it was in 1 1914, when it agreed to a clause in the Legislative Council Bill, providing that if and when women became eligible to sit in the House they should also be eligible io sit in the Council. This Act, which was for the reform of the Council, was to have come into operation on -January 1, lt>l6, but in lflo the special clause providing for this was repealed, and the operation was postponed to 1917. In 1916 it was again postponed to the beginning of IS_O, and last year it was enacted that the change should not take effect except by proclamation. This proclamation is not operative till at least one year after it is gazetted. We are glad to hear that the Government intends to proclaim the Act when Parliament rises," added _iss Melville. There have been enough delays already. Women are interested in the reform of the Upper House, though probably there are not many who would wish to become members of it, at least as it is now constituted. This new development will make them rather more interested than before."