STATUS OF WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 14

STATUS OF WOMEN.

A WORLD TOUR.

MUCH FREEDOM IN RUSSIA.

The speaker at the meeting of the women members of the Epsoin-Oak branch of the Labour party last Saturday afternoon was Mr. Percy Humphreys, secretary of the Auckland Fabian Club, who has recently returned from a year spent abroad, in the course of which lie studied social conditions in Great Britain ai)d many other countries. Mr. Humphreys discussed the status of women gleaned through a visit to Russia in October last. It was his second visit, as he had been there on a business trip many years ago. Thus he was able to compare their status to-day with that of the past. At Leningrad Mr. Humphreys noted that the women, though plainly dressed, had plenty of variety in their clothes; there was no standard dress, contrary to what is sometimes thought. The economic conditions of women workers were favourable as regards living, and rents average usually frcim 1-16 to 1-8 of their wages. The Russian woman was free, continued the speaker, in regard to domestic status. Divorce was for a time made very cheap and easy to obtain. Thifc phase served its purpose, no doubt, in permitting the dissolving of misfit marriages; but it was not quite so easy to obtain under the latest legislation, although quite simple and straightforward compared with our system. There was a refreshing lack of hypocrisy about the Russian outlook, considered Mr. Humphreys. At the rivers crowds could be seen, of both sexes, diventing themselves of clothes and slipping into the water quite naturally and frankly. The absolute economic independence of the Russian woman and the practical equality of the sexes he contacted at the beginning of his journey, for on the Russian steamer which he boarded at London Bridge there was a girl officer, and half the crew were women. The altered status of women alone would ensure that Russia could never go back to the old days and ways. Superstition and ignorance had been brought to an end by economic freedom. There was one fact that struck a European traveller very forcibly; there was no prostitution in Russian cities, in great contrast to the other cities of Europe. A hearty vote of thanks was proposed by the chairman. Mrs. Mere Newton. J.P., to Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys for a most instructive afternoon. Afternoon tea was served by ladies of the committee, Mesdames Booth, Harris, Max, Fast, Ardern, Jacobs and Miss M. Booth.