"WE WANT THE WOMEN."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 167, 18 July 1938, Page 11

"WE WANT THE WOMEN."

Political Offerings Of Both Parties.

(By BERNICE E. SHACKLETOX.) In this most interesting time in the

political history of New Zealand, women face a period fraught for them with great potentialities of social and economic advancement. Stimulated by the new political mindednese of the country, they themselves are turning a more articulate consideration to their own affaire. There is a strong body of thought (not all of it organised into remitpassing associations and leagues) working below the surface. It ie a leaven, sometimes a ferment, which will soon nnd its own channel and be expreesed in more directions than the mere vote. But it will be expreesed in the vote more as a separate entity than formerly —and politicians know this. _A woman with her ear to the ground will be aware that the emphasis on the farmer as the deciding factor in the elections is shifting a little from him to her, and will shift etill more in her direction if the precarious country quota should disappear. Cinderella of Politic*

In this position of growing advantage, ehe, the Cinderella of politics, may arrive at a point at which ehe can flirt with Ministries themeleves and gain a good deal in the pre-election courting time. "Win her with gifts if she respect not words"—politicians are thinking in these terms, now. But, of course, it Iβ only a half truth to say it is all for the vote. There is a serious and new appreciation of woman, not so much as a sentimental and ideal figure,- for the etark statistics of abortion are in front of the nation— 6000 abortions in New Zealand every year—but as an overburdened person on whom the new order of society ie, in the transition period, placing a load from which society must give her some relief. Hitherto she hae been comparatively neglected. The worker has his Arbitration Court to see that he gets a fair deal; the poor have their relief and now the health and added pensions schemes; but women as a class, if we may call them that, are only elowly coming into their own. The Government's Beginning. During Labour's term of office there has 'been no legislation specifically relating to women's neede, except in the matter of pensions and family allowances, but the Government is accessible, end,, we may assume, receptive to ideas. i Mr. Fraser, Minister of Health, says that its members are watching with interest the domestic training centre ~T; D., Burnett, M.P. 'for. Temufc».-\A scheme is also awaiting legislative enactment under which nurefng aides "wili Tie trained to give nursfng and domestic assistance where there, is eicknees of a not too serious nature in the home. Moreover, the disabilities of - the married women teachers have been removed. Women'e wages have risen. These We beginnings. Mr. Fraeer sume up the Government's attitude thus: "We want to give the girls a fundamental training in housekeeping and mothercraft, which is the natural and potential avocation of every girl," though he would make it a matter of choice that any woman who wanted to do other Work could do so although married.

In stressing mothercraft ae "the natural and potential avocation of every girl," Mr. Fraser haa stated a fundamental principle with "which the Opposition ie in entire agreement. There i> this in politics: that although point* of policy may differ, public opinion of the permeation of the idea through the whole of the nation, forces upon successive Ministries a certain degree of unity in the process of government, although the actual methods of the working out of the idea may vary. And women, now familiar with the methods of thie Government, may reasonably ask at this stage: "How will the National party, if returned to power, deal with the problem* of woman as they are to-day and ae they may arise V*

The answer, as stated <by Mr. Hamilton, is: "Through a Ministry of Social Welfare." And since thie is a new move in the political field, it is worth examination.

Ministry of Social Welfare. .._ The Ministry, Mr. Hamilton explains, will have ae ite special concern the well-being of youth end of women and children, and it will be based on cooperation with the existing voluntary societies, ewh ae the Plunket Society, the National Council of Women, Mothers' Leagues, the Y.W.C.A., church societies, the Woinen'e Division of the Farmers' Union, Women's Institutes,

etc ■•"" '' It would perhaps be better to describe it aa a co-ordinating Department to aaeist voluntary and private institutions, rather than actually a new Department of State. There are, indeed, a number of State Departmente which already touch certain aspects of health and eocjaf welfare; but Mr. Hamilton feele that the work of such institutions ae the Plunket Society and dental clinics would be rendered more effective if their channels of approach to the Government were unified and brought within the scope of a combined organisation, a Department, in short, with the power to give help, financial or in any other way, without delay where help is needed. He stresses that thie part of the National party's policy is not made in opposition to the Government, but in reeogHition of many modern touching the morals and health of the community, and as a. contribution towards their solution. "The first essential Iβ to know the problem*." These Mr. Hamilton jle already jievfewing in conference with t persons •eientiUcally qualified to analyse f And here let me interpose the Government has itself done some work, a* with it* report of the Committee of (Inquiry into the various aspect* of-afcbr-tion and a report on maternity tabled in the House. But as far as one can aeeeriain, it contemplates no actual legislation arising out of these reports. In the «sse of aJwrtion, eome advance Wβ been made, by regulation, as, for inctance, in limiting th»- scale■ ;of ahortifeavnta. • '", .

Mr. Hamilton proposes to make these pressing problems the concern of the people themselves by a decentralized method of using, the natural social expression of the community through social organisations; drawing on the knowledge and experience of those whose intimate touch with community life makes them most comment to reach the sometimes obscure roots of the probleme within each district. Requests for this help often enough come from the cotninunity itself.

Here, at random, are some of the thinge to be faced. Over the la«t fiveyear period of which statistics are provided, there were sb'SO illegitimate children born in this country., and in addition to these in the same periol 8790 were born within seven months of marriage; a total of 14*470 in five years. The total proportion represents 31.21 per cent to the total legitimate first births. The abortion figures are equally startling. .And the problem of bringing children into the world is related to many others, from domestic help to immigration.

"A Ministry," Mr. Hamilton said, "cannot purify the world, but it can help to improve it."

There is then the problem of the child leaving school. He has to find his proper place in life, and here the co-ordinating powers of the Ministry would establish a link with the Employment Bureau.

DELIGHTFUL ENSEMBLE for even, ing wear. The dress sports all the newest touches, with the full back and "corset" waistline. A patterned bolero, heavily embroidered with diamante*, matches the bodice of the dress. There is the question of nutrition. Women feed the nation and lay the foundations of health. The British Medical Association believce there is twi urgent necessity that they should be educated in food values and dietetics. A Ministry of Social Welfare would help to establish the channel and provide the means. And so on. Almost any woman's organisation might keep a Minietry busy with recommendations. But such organisations are not wholly competent to carry out the recommendations without Government guidance and assistance.

"Modern life," eaid Mr. Hamilton, "ie very serious, and some of the moet essential thinge in life are neglected."

I have given Mr. Hamilton's statement fairly, fully, for, as I said, it is a new suggestion. Labour k hardly likely to let it go unchallenged.