WHAT OF THE WOMEN?

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 206, 30 August 1921, Page 3

WHAT OF THE WOMEN?

* CTo the Editor.) Sir,—Mr. Statham, M.P., is endeavourI ingAo launch, a new political party—the National Progressive and Moderate Labour—with, ac is usual in such instances, the fixed idea of transforming politics ar\A iiTtJTna.tp.ly pnpt.urinjr the I ship of State. Our new, would-be leader adopted a non-committal - attitude in moet things, ana , in" answering questions was not alw.aye;frank,. and.though doubtless of a calculating, and legal mind, is obviously not a diplomat.' ' One -question put—aeked. What position wtll-ytju -'grant 'to~ "wxnnen when your party comes inta_pawjer?" I* wa s ey i' dently a poser, too great a question to answer, without great meditation, and > ! was.quietly and- rather sadly put .on one side, without comment. But it was a' woman who put "€Ke" question, and she again asks it through .your columns, sir, on belialf of women electors in general. It is a wide question—notjseeking initial electoral Save been woman's, .for many, years, but as Mr. i Statham specially invited women to what was obviously" "a man's meeting, surely he has some definite idea in his platform, concerning the status r.. ; > be given to-women in the day of- his power. Politically one means. Will woman be admitted to the party on terms of equality, and will the-' party -support woman c candidature for seats in the House? The Reform party, realising women's power and the necessity for t»PH- support, grudgingly allowed the \ bill to pass giving her the right to a seat in Parliament, but has one man Jack- done anything to assist women to I get there? Will Mr. Statham? Let him please answer. Even in darkest England woman is accorded a seat in the Commons, and on juries she is compelled to sit— Yet not so long, ago she had to make her presence felt with the axehead. Surely constant chopping "wore away stones. The late Mr. R. J. Seddon used to say—with his massive hand over the cardiac region—"My wife, God bless hex!, has. made mc what I am." Therp was some truth tar the assertion, and he knew how to draw hie people. Because of hjs gratitude to one woman, he I gava .the. women of this, country the vote. •■He was wise in his day. Where is the man who, complete in himself, does not look around for woman's help? Does he exist? A woman thinks not, and she thinks as one who has experienced. Ever she bears the heavier—the hidden part. So let Mr. Stetham say frankly what position he Will accord to women in Parliament—his-party-is— not yet overin numbere—so the commitment will not he great. So many mettere of national importance can only be solved with.the assistance of women, and tnireiy in these days of vaunted equality, aJi aspirant to political leadership should not treat a question that brings him to the footlights, as one to be ignored, and so give the impression that frankness ie not political etiquette in abstruse questions. It is tho women he will be up against, and he must be prepared to give a fair answer to a fair question. O! Woman In onr fcoure of ease. Capricious, coy, and hard to please. But in politics, Oht—l am, etc., FAIR QUESTIONER. I