HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 17

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

CANADA'S WOMAN MEMBER. Canada's first and only woman member of the House of Commons Is Miss Agnes Campbell Macpliail, wild was elected from her 'farm-home, constituency of Grey Soutli-Eaet, Ontario, in 1921, and still represents that riding. She left school-teaching to run her campaign with the aid of a telephone and a car. Starting witli the Farmers' party, she is now an Independent, and is probably the first Canadian to refuse a soft berth in the Senate. Her voice is the most notable in the Canadian Parliament. She is sft l|in tall, has black hair and blue-grey penetrating eyes, doesn't diet and likes candy. Newspapermen like her, for lier peppery wit makes good copy. Miss Macpliail opposes war, armies, munitions manufacture, cadet training 1 , simpering patriotism, big financiers and lobbying. She wants penal, money, educational, political and a/iy other good discussable reform. Occasionally she has roses on her desk; the first one came from a defeated Liberal. She follows Rule 10: "A member shall uncover to address Mr. Speaker," by never wearing a hat in the Commons. She neither understands nor worries about Ottawa's elite. She lives simply, wears tailored dresses, cooks her own breakfast, and works until midnight. Although a Latter Day- Saint, she doesn't think much of polygamy, or of monogamy either. She can cook, churn, sew, milk a cow, or harness a horse with equal dexterity.