CURBING FORCES OF DESTRUCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 127, 1 June 1938, Page 6

CURBING FORCES OF DESTRUCTION.

(To the Editor.)

"Hopeful's"' letter is a little vague in its inferences, but I think we must all be more or less hopeful or we would have given man up as a hopeless job ages ago. Fifty years ago the most wonderful woman of our time, Mrs. Annie Besant, was wrestling with the obstreperous male mentality of the 'eighties, and she made quite a large dent in it. In lighting for women's rights we are fighting for the uplift of the whole race. For instance, of what use to us is the 40-liour week if we do not utilise the extra hours in mental and spiritual development? For man is threefold and cannot live by bread alone. The 40hour week is more harmful than good to hiai if he wastes it in idleness or mischief—much better to be working, even for the same wage. Women want to see the problems that "urgently need solving dealt with first—not spectacular showmanship. Free milk for school children— but our babies must grow into 6tunted, undernourished five-year-olds before they can get it! Extra milk must be poured on the ground, and not given away! And these are actually some of our laws! When we have scrapped antiquated, lop-sided party politics and have put twelve true men and twelve true women on a Board of Government, then we will be in a position to crow about "leading the world 1 ' —and not till then. I think most true-minded women would prefer to remain in the home and inspire their menfolk from its sanctuary, but when the majority of men allow the destructive force running amok in the world at present to hypnotise them en masse, we just have to down pots and frying pans—and clean up the meee. A. BEXXETT.