The Active Part That Women Should Play

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 10

The Active Part That Women Should Play

Opinions Expressed On Dr. Butchers' Remarks.

DARING SUGGESTIONS? Expressing an opinion on the speech on "Women's Rights" given at Palmerston North by Dr. A. G. Butchers, head of the Dominion correspondence schools, and reported is last night's "Star," the following Auckland women have commented thus: "As they come from a New Zealander," said Miss Ellen Melville, "Dr. Butchers' suggestions are considered daring. In many other civilised countries these so-called reforms are not only .accepted in the public opinion but have become a recognised part of the community government. It is a matter of shame," she continued, "that New Zealand, which eet an example to the world in the matter of giving women equal franchise, ahould now lag eo far behind other countries in a matter that

concerns both the government and welfare at its people. One would think that it WpUld be obvious to all intelligent people that unless both men and women shared an equal part in governing, the administration of the country must be 'lopsided.'

"As the president of the National Council of Women, I should like to say that IJr. Butchers' suggestions are in line with the aims and ideals of our association. For years we have been trying to educate the public to accept these reforms as their recognised right, for wo realise that without public support it. in no uae asking for Parliamentary assistance. If the women of New Zealand had been more alert in regard fW-iW , „ n^ n s their rights of citizenship the privileges Dr. Butchers describes would have long ago been granted to tnenj."

Mrs, S. O. English, president of the * ea P ie °f Mothers, said that all thinking women miwt agree with Dr. . " c le *" 8 ' . women took . a keener interest in the government of their country many of the social and economic

ills could be righted. Women had a right to share the privileges of men, and also to share their responsibilities. In co-operation with men, women could bring about many of the reforms the country was crying out for.

"I was very interested in Dr. Butcher's remarks," said Miss Elsie Bennet, general secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association. "I feel that, in this time of world upheaval, the woman's point of view is increasingly necessary in all deliberations on nmtters which concern the community generally.

"I should like to stress tlie point that the woman's point of view can only adequately be expressed by a woman. This does not necessarily mean tli© type of woman to whom the greatest compliment that one can pay is that she has a 'man's brain.'"

In such a country as this, said Mrs. W. B. Darlow, president of the New Women's Club, there was a crying need for a body with ideals -such as the League of Women Voters. To play their part successfully in the modern world women must make themselves conversant with all matters that pertain to the progress of humanity. She hailed with delight Dp. Butcher's remarks, and hoped that women would take them to

heart. Unless women were given equality they had no opportunity of developing intelligently, and it was upon the intelligence of women that the cultural and economic progress of the race depended.

"The time has come," said Mrs. M. Dreaver, when women must take their place with men in all affairs. The old argument that the woman's place was in the home has been exploded by modern progress and science. To-day's home labour-saving conditions have given her inore freedom and she is now able to share the responsibilities of government." Mrs. Dreaver maintained that women should snare witn men in the benefits of the country. For instance they paid into the unemployment fund but did not receive equal benefits with the men. Underlining further inequality, Mrs. Dreaver pointed out that a woman may be turned down as a nominee for a city council, a harbour board or a power board by the general public, but she was tolerated on a hospital board oi* ••liil'l welfare courts, whose responsibilities have been underestimated in the public eyes. These institutions are just m important u any other lo«al body*